It’s Sunday in the heart of University Clinical Hospital of Valladolid and the doctor Jose Maria Pradillos is preparing for two life-changing surgeries for Aida and Celestino, two children recently arrived from Guinea-Bissau. But this story didn’t start here, under the bright lights of the operating room. It actually began thousands of miles away, in a country where scarcity of medical resources is just one of many obstacles to survival.
Jose Maria, head of the pediatric surgery department at the Valladolid clinic With over a decade of experience on medical missions in West Africa, he knows firsthand what it means to fight against adversity. “Since I was little, I wanted to do medicine to help children”he comments, almost with humility, as if the work he does in Guinea-Bissau was only an extension of his vocation.
José María’s commitment to the children of this African country dates back almost ten yearswhen a colleague asked him to join a medical mission in the country. “Actually, I always wanted to go there to help,” he recalls. This began a trajectory of regular travel to this country, where health conditions are extremely limited.
José María kisses a child after caring for him in Guinea-Bissau.
“We bring all the equipment and we make sure that no child pays anything for the operations”he explains, highlighting how they made pediatric procedures in public hospitals completely free. However, local conditions are sometimes so precarious that it becomes impossible to carry out certain procedures. This was the case of Aida and Celestino, two children he met during his last trip, at Easter. “When we saw Aida and Celestino’s cases, we knew we couldn’t treat them there safely,” admits.
The two minors
Aida, only three years oldsuffers from a severe abdominal wall malformation, a condition that causes her intestines to protrude out of their cavity, giving her a pregnancy-like appearance. Without appropriate surgery, your quality of life and survival expectancy would be limited.
On the other hand, Celestino had ingested caustic sodaa substance commonly used in Guinea-Bissau to clean utensils, which had burned his esophagus. “Children often mistake soda for something else and drink the liquid, which causes enormous harm,” he explains, referring to this tragic incident which often has fatal consequences in the country. In Celestino’s case, ingesting the substance had left his esophagus completely closed, preventing him from swallowing solid food.
José María and his team decided that the only solution for the two children was to transfer them to Spain, where they could operate in optimal conditions. “We had neither the dilators nor the equipment necessary to treat Celestino in Guinea-Bissau,” says the surgeon, adding that the safety of the little ones always comes first.
An international effort
The transfer of the children was not easy. The Spanish Embassy in Guinea-Bissau played a crucial role in facilitating permits and coordinating transport. Despite constant changes within the Guinean administration, José María’s team managed to ensure the children’s passage to Valladolid.
Once at the University Clinical Hospital, Celestino’s surgical procedure will focus on dilate your esophagus to allow you to swallow solids again. For Aida, the procedure will be more complicated: rebuild your abdominal walla process of returning the intestines to their correct position and reinforcing the abdominal cavity with mesh if necessary.
José María (left) performs surgery in a hospital in Guinea-Bissau.
The story of Aida and Celestino is not only an example of the impact of humanitarian medicine, but also of the bonds that are created between Guinean families and the medical team. “The families are deeply grateful” comments José María. Although some children cannot travel with their parents due to difficult economic conditions, those who do express immense gratitude.
The doctor remembers with particular tenderness the case of a family he had helped during a previous mission. “They brought us cashew nuts as a sign of gratitude. It was the little they had, but for them it was their way of showing us how grateful they were,” he says.
A new hope
For José María, each trip to Guinea-Bissau is a reaffirmation of his mission. “I feel more useful in Africa than here in Valladolid” he confesses, although he also recognizes that his work in Spain is what allows him to continue carrying out these missions. “If I didn’t work here, I wouldn’t be able to afford to buy the equipment we need there,” he adds, emphasizing the inseparable link between his life in Spain and his work in Guinea-Bissau.
Despite improvements to the local health system, much remains to be done. However, José María is optimistic. “The conditions at the hospital have improved enormously since we started. There is now a functioning surgical suite, which was unthinkable when we arrived,” he rejoices. It also celebrates the progress of local staff, now capable of performing minor surgeries with quality guarantees.
Aida and Celestino are just two of the many children who have found new hope thanks to the work of José María and his team. “Every time we come back from a trip, I take away more than I give” he reflects, aware that his work goes beyond saving lives: it is about offering these children the possibility of a better future.
