HART is a multifaceted group of volunteers and professionals committed to
making a difference, whether that be in the life of one individual or many who may
be in need. We seek to improve the quality of life through healthcare
supercharging. We are primarily focused on the surgical treatment of Buruli
ulcer disease in West Africa while concomitantly attending to the many other
medical conditions (Cleft lip & palate, etc). Our approach provides for an extensive
outreach educational program that takes place at the village level and is designed to
address healthcare needs early. The hope is to avoid greater suffering that comes
with delay in treatment. Education is the true answer to solving many of their
healthcare challenges.
click here to be redirected to the HART website (www.hartafrica.com)
HART is a 501 (c) 3 Charitable, not for profit organization
Plastic Surgeon Made Lifelong Chief In Ghana, West Africa from Plastic Surgery News. 2007.
Blues’ great John Lee Hooker once sang that “the blues is a healer,” but to the people of a small village in Ghana, Kimball Crofts, MD, of Salt Lake City, is the real deal.
Almost nine years ago, Dr. Crofts participated in his first international humanitarian venture in the country of Ghana. During his second of eight surgical missions he was made a lifelong chief in the village of Asikuma to honor his efforts to help develop their healthcare system and administer surgical relief. “I became involved in the Humanitarian Aid Relief Team (HART), a non-profit organization, early in my practice of plastic surgery and began traveling to Ghana to treat various surgical problems, most notable Buruli ulcer disease. My rapport and trust with the villagers continued to develop over time. Last year I was asked to help build a medical clinic for them, to which I agreed, although not exactly certain as to how I would fund it at the time. It has been a fascinating experience and is precious to me,” Dr. Crofts says.
His work has been challenging, particularly when it involves Buruli ulcer, an emerging disease that is akin to leprosy. Usually it begins as a small nodule and if not treated early it progresses into a large ulcerative lesion that leads to severe infection and deformity. The nodular form can be easily excised and cured. Ulcers require skin grafting, flaps or amputation.
Typically the disease affects children between the ages of 7-15. Unfortunately, the villagers don’t have a good understanding of the disease and often attribute it to a curse. Consequently, they go into hiding instead of seeking early treatment. In lieu of modern medical care they often receive ineffective or damaging treatment from the traditional healers of the villages. “Some of the treatments I have seen range from wounds packed with manure and mud to spit and banana leaves. Recently, a young boy showed up on crutches with his traditional healer at his side claiming to have been cured. Unfortunately, after removing the manure from his leg wound, I learned that his Tibia was gone. The healer had it in his pocket wrapped in a cloth. He was proud of his cure. X-rays showed a leg full of osteomyelits, far from a cure.”
To help counter these genuine but misguided treatments, Dr. Crofts and his teams have helped develop an outreach program to educate and direct the villagers to seek treatment early. In addition to the outreach program, extensive efforts are made to collaborate in the education of local healthcare providers by developing their surgical skills.
Dr. Crofts will be heading another team to Ghana this November to continue his efforts to help eradicate Buruli ulcer disease in West Africa and finalize plans for the medical clinic.