9 out of 10 people in underserved communities within Sub Saharan Africa do not readily have access to surgical care and children form over 50 percent of those affected by this health service deficiency in this region.

It is in response to the urgent need for surgical procedures among many of the children in the poor areas that the Volunteer Medical Corps, a member agency of the Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International driven with a mission to provide medical aid, humanitarian support, and relief to those in need and in communities affected by disasters commenced its Free Surgery Program. 

Many of these children living with umbilical and inguinal hernias had endured recurrent moderate to severe abdominal pains as a result of their conditions but due to the low socio-economic status of their families, they could not access the necessary treatment. 

Since inception of the program, many of the beneficiaries who had been diagnosed with umbilical hernias, inguinal hernias, hydroceles, undescended testes and poorly done circumcisions have benefitted immensely from the VMC’s intervention through access to free surgeries.

Mercy Sunday, mother to one of the beneficiaries of this intervention declared’’ I am so grateful for the opportunity to have been part of the program. My daughter always complained of abdominal pain, I didn’t have the funds to even think of taking her to the hospital for the operation. When I heard about this free surgery by the Volunteer Medical Corps; I saw it as an opportunity for me to get help for my daughter’’.

Williams Amidu , father to one of the beneficiaries declared ‘ My daughter had been complaining of severe gastrointestinal stomach pains for months, we had gone for

several medical checkup but all to no avail, not until the Volunteer Medical Corps intervened by providing free surgery for my daughter, and ever since then she has been perfectly healthy. I want to say a big thank you to Pastor Chris and the Volunteer Medical Corps for the free surgery they did for my daughter I am grateful and happy.