Stitching hope

“I am just a piece in the puzzle,” says Dr. Nthumba, our Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon when asked about being awarded the 2023 Noordhoff Humanitarian Award.

His inspiring story can be traced back to his 2nd year in medical school. He witnessed a surgical procedure on a 9-year-old boy with severe deformities caused by burns. A surgeon was called from Oregon, USA, just to perform a 2-hour procedure. “I asked myself, why do we need to bring a doctor all the way here to do a simple surgery that we could do ourselves? That is what drew me to my current profession,” he says.

Fast forward, he has now established a plastic and reconstructive surgery training program in our facility - a fellowship designed to groom aspiring surgeons who share the same vision to make an impact. With two fellows currently under his mentorship, Dr. Nthumba envisions a future where they would step into his shoes, carrying forth the Lord’s work. “By the end of our current Strategic Plan (2029), I hope the fellows will become members of the faculty because they will have finished the training. Hopefully, I will be retired and will have created a path for them,” he shares.

Despite the challenges of working in a low-income setting with limited resources, Dr. Nthumba remains undeterred. He understands the power of collaboration and the impact it has on transforming lives. He carries the surgical banner beyond our Hospital where he is also a clinical epidemiologist. This is in addition to being a Clinical Associate Professor in the Plastic Department at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and an adjunct Associate Professor of surgery at Baylor College of medicine. His efforts did not go unnoticed, earning him recognition such as the prestigious Noordhoff Humanitarian Award.

“Africa has 3% of healthcare providers in the world. The fact that 3% of global healthcare providers can serve 17% of the world’s population is amazing! I believe this is one of the reasons that contributed to being recognized,” he shares.

Dr. Nthumba's story is not just about surgical prowess or accolades; it is a testament to the transformative power of compassion and dedication. He emphasizes recognizing the team that serves with him. “When a large team collaborates towards a worthy cause, most of the time only one or two people end up standing out, and that happened to be me this time. However, this award belongs to all of us making an impact through plastics and reconstructive surgeries in Africa,” he concludes.

Congratulations Dr. Nthumba! Thank you for your contribution towards impacting #1millionlives!

#Connected #CompassionateHealthcare