Safe Anaesthesia Worldwide (SAWW) was founded by Dr. Roger Eltringham, an anaesthetist who was concerned about the glaring inequalities in anaesthesia services around the world. Since 2011, SAWW has supplied anaesthesia equipment, training and research to prevent suffering and save lives in remote and challenging locations worldwide.
Equipment donated by SAWW has enabled the treatment of well in excess of 15,000 patients and has included repair of cleft lip and palate in children, caesarean section for obstructed labour and other obstetric emergencies, hernia repairs, removal of malignant and benign tumors, treatment of wounds, fractures, crush injuries and burns, amputations, respiratory support and oxygen therapy, resuscitation, sustaining premature and sick babies. SAWW has supplied appropriate anaesthesia equipment to 76 different hospitals in 31 countries. Equipment that works reliably and economically in resource-poor locations is donated, giving anaesthesia providers the right tools for the job. Portable anaesthesia machines urgently needed to treat casualties following natural disasters in Nepal and the Philippines have been supplied by SAWW as well as to doctors who run mobile outreach surgical clinics to reach poor patients in remote locations. Specialist breathing equipment has been donated to neonatal units to assist vulnerable premature and sick babies and 17 hospitals have been supplied with equipment to improve oxygen supply. SAWW has supported research and development of solar powered oxygen generating devices for low-resource settings where oxygen and electricity supplies are absent.
All of this work was only possible thanks to invaluable supporters, donors and volunteers. It is hard to believe that ten years has passed since the founding of SAWW. None of this work would have been possible without the enthusiastic support of Rotary Clubs such as the Rotary Club of Belleville, driven by International Services Chair, Dr. Ruth Mathieson. A recent thank you was sent to Dr. Ruth by SAWW along with a 10th anniversary review report, attached. https://safe4all.org.uk/10th-anniversary