Kind Cuts for Kids: Prof. Paddy Dewan

Kind Cuts for Kids is an Australian-based organisation that exists to provide specialist medical care for children in developing countries around the world.

Their goal is to improve the lives of children in developing countries by conducting a range of surgical procedures that are not readily available in that country, while educating local healthcare professionals. This organisation's aim is to provide self-sufficiency in these procedures for each country that is visited. Many children in developing countries have little access to healthcare, or even clean water. Kind Cuts for Kids goal is to ensure low cost, high-quality care to as many as possible, This is achieved through training and educating local healthcare professionals to maximise the best use of limited resources.

Dr Dewan, you have just returned from a humanitarian trip to Kosovo, could you tell us how your Kind Cuts For Kids initiative came about?

Kind Cuts for Kids (KCFK) came about by chance. While working in Ireland, as a senior trainee in Paediatric Surgery, I was invited to travel to Russia to assist with the management of people who were burnt in a train explosion. Working in this challenging environment was instantly addictive and it left me contemplating how I could continue to provide assistance.

While connecting with various organisations, I recognised the need to focus on sustainable supportive care for children in developing countries. This meant that these organisations should have been aiming to make their assistance redundant, by training of the local teams.

Thus, Kind Cuts For Kids came to be. Kind Cuts for Kids has outreach in 22 different countries, many of which no longer require support.

Is it true that an OUM student accompanied you on your most recent visit to Kosovo?

Yes, Natalie Burkhardt accompanied Kind Cuts for Kids for a two week visit to Kosovo, where we attended to 36 patients. Trips, such as this, present an unparalleled opportunity for OUM students to assist in the remediation of poor patient outcomes, that have arisen due to substandard care.

By getting involved, you can help change the lives of children in need around the world. Supporters are the lifeblood of Kind Cuts for Kids. Without generosity and goodwill, the organisation cannot improve the lives of so many children.

So, there are many ways to get involved including membership, donations, fundraising, sponsorship, and event attendance.

Please visit https://www.kindcutsforkids.net/