Burn Care in East Africa
Our goals
The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified burn injuries as a forgotten global public health crisis. Approximately 180,000 annual deaths are caused by burns, with the majority occurring in low-income countries. Child burn mortality rates are seven times higher in these regions compared to wealthier nations.
Without treatment, burn victims in developing countries face hopeless outcomes. Burns are frequently fatal, and survivors often endure severe disfigurement and permanent disability. Many patients languish for weeks or months in local hospitals with no real chance of improvement - adequate surgical care is either inaccessible or simply doesn't exist. CBWCF provides free, standards-compliant treatment to the majority of our patients.
Treating burn patients presents multifaceted challenges, regardless of location. Acute and chronic wounds often require distinct treatment strategies, frequently involving repeated wound care and multiple surgical interventions. Acute cases commonly involve critical care challenges, while chronic wounds typically present with extensive scar tissue and contractures. Optimal management demands a multidisciplinary approach, particularly reliant on robust anesthesia services.
The healing journey often spans weeks to months. Ideally, patients should also receive rehabilitation programs to restore function and address psychological trauma.
Further Reading:
For a comprehensive guide to burn management in low-resource settings, see Dr. Eriksen’s chapter in Hardy & Hochman’s Global Surgery (2023).
eBook: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-28127-3
A core priority of CBWCF is training skilled medical professionals in specialized burn care - an exceptionally challenging field. We have made significant investments in educating plastic surgeons, nurses, and physiotherapists, with strong emphasis on local capacity building. In 2024, we will expand our training programs to include anesthesia specialists. The majority of our patients receive free, standards-compliant treatment through these efforts.
Training of Nurses and Doctors is Part of Our Daily Operations at the Burn Unit in Addis Ababa
All staff members at our unit have received their primary education in Ethiopia, and some have pursued further education at other universities across Africa. We are fortunate to have a dedicated and skilled team, and our department has the capacity to provide training for healthcare professionals from other local hospitals. We also receive candidates for training from hospitals across the East African region.
The foundation has actively supported the further education of several of our staff members, with programs completed at the following institutions:
- St. Paul University Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa – Operating room nursing
- University of Port Elizabeth, South Africa – Master’s degree in operating room nursing
- Addis Ababa University – Plastic surgery
- University of the Western Cape, South Africa – Doctoral studies in physiotherapy
To provide quality care for burn patients, a strong anesthesia service is essential. In collaboration with the charitable organization Care4Burn, the foundation has contributed to establishing a burn unit at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center (KCMC) in Tanzania. In the near future, we will continue our involvement at KCMC by supporting the further development of the anesthesia field.
Burn injuries remain a critical public health challenge across low- and middle-income countries, where education levels and living conditions significantly increase risks. Our foundation implements community education programs on burn prevention and first aid while pioneering locally-produced solutions - including a specially designed clean-burning stove that could dramatically reduce fire-related injuries and smoke-related illnesses.
Effective Prevention: Reducing Burn Suffering in Low-Income Countries
While Western nations have made significant progress in burn prevention, low-income countries continue to face devastating consequences (WHO). Our foundation addresses this gap through:
1. Education Initiatives:
-
Reached thousands of schoolchildren with burn prevention curriculum
-
Teach high-risk home environments (open flames, electricity, chemicals)
-
Conduct twice-monthly family training for hospitalized patients
-
Empower discharged patients to become community safety ambassadors
2. Life-Saving Innovation:
After a decade of development, CBWCF now produces smokeless cookstoves that:
✔ Eliminate 80% of household fire risks
✔ Reduce respiratory illnesses
✔ Are manufactured locally for sustainability