Provide total knee replacements to people in Kenya. This will make a difference as it allows Patients who were unable to walk, work, or care for themselves can regain mobility. This pain relief allows return to normal daily activities. Providing these knee replacements therefore reduce disability burden for this population. Total knee replacements would restore productivity, especially in working-age or active older adults and reduce indirect costs like caregiving and lost income. These surgeries would be considered cost-effective in many settings because of long-term gains in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). This surgical intervention would also address healthcare inequality by reducing disparities in access to advanced orthopedic care. This brings care closer to populations that otherwise cannot afford travel abroad.
Kenyans
The opportunity was selected by the organization as well as the organizer Dr kenneth sands. Currently these surgeries are not available to this population and our project would help to allow this population to benefit from these mobility restoring procedures.
This surgery would help to restore movement and independence in this underserved population. One successful TKR can convert a fully dependent patient into an independent adult. This matters more in Kenya because of Limited social support systems and disability often leading to loss of income for entire families. So each case has a medical impact (pain + function), Economic impact (productivity restored), as well as a Social impact (reduced caregiver burden). This medical mission would also address unmet surgical need as only 6% of Africans, who need surgery actually receive it. Learnings from a medical mission in Kenya extend well beyond the trip itself. Practicing in a resource-limited setting sharpens clinical judgment, with greater reliance on history and physical exam and more thoughtful use of diagnostics. It reframes indications for total knee replacement, improving patient selection and expectation-setting. Surgeons become more adaptable intraoperatively, less dependent on ideal conditions, and better at managing constraints. Exposure to different systems highlights opportunities to improve efficiency, cost-awareness, and team communication back home. It also strengthens teaching by emphasizing fundamentals and decision-making. Most importantly, sustained collaboration—through training, repeat visits, or virtual support—can transform a short-term mission into long-term capacity building. The true impact is realized when these insights translate into lasting changes in practice, education, and system improvement.
Our medical mission to Kakamega, Kenya, was an incredible opportunity to restore mobility and improve quality of life through total knee arthroplasty. Many patients had lived with years of severe pain and disability, often without access to specialized orthopedic care. Seeing them stand, walk, and smile after surgery was a powerful reminder of the life-changing impact of compassionate medicine. Beyond the procedures themselves, the trip fostered meaningful connections with the people of Kakamega, whose resilience, gratitude, and kindness left a lasting impression on our entire team. We are honored to have played a small part in helping these patients regain independence and hope for the future.
