Czech surgeons continue humanitarian mission in Amman

AMMAN — In its fifth medical mission this year, a team of five Czech surgeons is performing free orthopaedic and reconstructive surgeries for Jordanians and war-wounded Syrians in Amman.

“This year, we asked five missions from Czech hospitals to perform surgeries in Amman. This is the fifth of them, and we are expecting [another] five  [medical missions] in the [second] half of the year,” said Czech Consul Bohumil Jirkal.

The missions have treated over 140 patients this year, Jirkal told The Jordan Times, adding that the current team has performed 16 surgeries since arriving on May 25.

Surgeon Martin Molitor said the most complicated surgery of this mission involved a three-year-old Syrian child whose right hand had been injured by explosives. 

The medical team performed several procedures including stretching and straightening the fingers. Doctors also used sharpened, stainless steel pins known as Kirschner wires, the surgeon explained.

Other injuries treated this week included burn injuries and scars, he said. 

Watheq Al Qsous, a Jordanian doctor involved in the initiative, said the follow-up plan depends on the individual case of the patient, but could include multiple surgeries over several months, all of which would be performed for free.

“It is a humanitarian programme, our work is for free and the patients are not asked to pay anything,” he told The Jordan Times.

“We cover it all, from A to Z. The hospital [visits], the follow-ups, the medication and second operations, if needed.” 

According to Jirkal, the Czech government has spent around $1 million on the project, and Jordanians and Syrians of all age groups have benefitted. 

The project is “part of the cooperation between Jordan and the Czech Republic”, he explained.

Pavel Popelka, who also works on the project, said the Czech Republic launched the initiative over five years ago.

“We chose some countries that needed medical help, [and] we found out that Jordan is a very good country to perform operations. The hospitals are well-equipped and there are a lot of refugees from Syria,” Popelka told The Jordan Times.

The medical teams have performed a range of operations including reconstructive, orthopaedic and open-heart surgeries, he added. 

The Czech medical team currently working at two local hospitals also comprises nurses Dana Chalchulova, Jana Nadvornikova and engineer Jan Duben. 

The team will conclude its visit on June 3.