Operation Esperanza (or Operation Hope) is an orthopedic medical mission that has been going to Ecuador for 27 years. The team offers free hip replacement surgery to the poor and disadvantaged who would never be able to have such surgery if they had to pay for it. On October 22, Dr. Ben Greidanus, along with several team members, shared the outcomes from the most recent mission with Riverview Rotarians.
In late April 2024, the team traveled to Cuenca, Ecuador. On April 23 a big clinic was held, seeing patients 180 patients. From this clinic, 40 suitable patients were selected for surgery. In the following five days of surgery, in two operating rooms, the team completed the planned 40 surgeries. Besides the total hip replacements, 104 joint injections were also done (to alleviate pain for those who were not surgical candidates) as well as more than 150 physiotherapy assessments.
Over the years, Mission Esperanza, has changed the lives of many hundreds of poor people. Disabled adults can work again and provide for their families. The next mission is planned for February 1, 2025-February 10, 2025, and will be the 27th year! Again, the goal will be to provide 40 hip replacement surgeries.
