On Saturday, September 23, I had the privilege of attending Operation International’s Masquerade Gala. OI works to provide medical care, both surgical and non-surgical, to underserved communities in poor countries. Founded in 1996 by Southampton doctors Medhat Allam, MD, Ravi Kothuru, MD, and Robert Mineo, CRNA, Operation International has successfully completed dozens of life-saving and life-changing missions in other countries.
In 1997, OI made their first-ever trip to Haiti, opening their eyes even further to the devastating effects of the lack of medical healthcare and medical education. At the Masquerade Gala on Saturday, Dr. Allam spoke about the ailments, disorders, diseases, tumors, and syndromes he and the other 200 volunteers have witnessed over the years. Behind him, a slideshow of children with cleft lips, mothers with sick babies, amputees, and individuals living with large masses on their bodies was presented on the screen. Allam told stories of the lives they have changed, not only through the surgeries they have provided but also through the education they have given to local doctors and nurses.
Outside of medical care, Operation International also brings supplies to orphanages in the areas they travel to. This provides an opportunity for people who aren’t medical professionals to volunteer for OI missions. Speaking with one of Dr. Allam’s daughters, Gabby, I learned about her time in an orphanage playing and reading to the children while her father and other doctors and nurses worked just miles away on patients.
Operation International relies on donations and Gala events like the one held on Saturday in order to function. At the Masquerade Gala I attended, I was able to witness, for one, the sheer amount of money needed to make these missions possible, and, for two, the amount that people are willing to give.
With that being said, if you are in a position to donate or would like to apply to volunteer on a mission or sponsor an orphan, please head over to OperationInternational.org.
The next mission will take place in 2024 in the mountains of Bhutan.
