Posted on 4 February, 2014

Photo by Mathieu Fortoul/MSF MSF has been managing surgical emergencies at the Bangui Community Hospital in CAR since early December, treating an average of 140 patients every week. To address the inflow of patients in recent weeks, MSF teams have...

Photo by Mathieu Fortoul/MSF

MSF has been managing surgical emergencies at the Bangui Community Hospital in CAR since early December, treating an average of 140 patients every week. To address the inflow of patients in recent weeks, MSF teams have set up tents in the courtyard of the Community Hospital for patients receiving post-operative care. There are more than 80 patients here. The wait between treatment and surgery is often long. Dorassio is practicing writing with his other hand to become a writer and tell his story. 

Photo by Mathieu Fortoul/MSF Dorassio’s older sister, Cynthia, comes every day to provide support, help him wash and eat, and keep him company.

Photo by Mathieu Fortoul/MSF

Dorassio’s older sister, Cynthia, comes every day to provide support, help him wash and eat, and keep him company.

Photo by Mathieu Fortoul/MSF Dorassio is in the recovery room for an hour, alongside MSF’s other surgical patients. The surgical team will perform more than 10 operations over the course of the day. All of these patients are considered serious cases...

Photo by Mathieu Fortoul/MSF

Dorassio is in the recovery room for an hour, alongside MSF’s other surgical patients.  The surgical team will perform more than 10 operations over the course of the day. All of these patients are considered serious cases – whether in terms of their survival or continued functioning. Our surgical activities focus on victims of violence (including injuries from gunshots, knife attacks, grenade explosions and arrows). The patients’ prognosis for survival is often uncertain.

Photo by Mathieu Fortoul/MSF Although the procedure lasts only 20 minutes, it is stressful for the patient. Dressing wounds is very painful and requires a general anesthetic so that the surgical team can clean the wound and change the dressing.

Photo by Mathieu Fortoul/MSF

Although the procedure lasts only 20 minutes, it is stressful for the patient. Dressing wounds is very painful and requires a general anesthetic so that the surgical team can clean the wound and change the dressing.  

Photo by Mathieu Fortoul/MSF The surgical team moves him into the operating room and places him on the operating table.

Photo by Mathieu Fortoul/MSF

The surgical team moves him into the operating room and places him on the operating table.

Photo by Mathieu Fortoul/MSF Dorassio is 23. He is among the many victims of the inter-communal violence taking place in the Central African Republic today. On January 18, he was shot in the arm in Bouar, in the country’s Northwest region. His arm...

Photo by Mathieu Fortoul/MSF

Dorassio is 23. He is among the many victims of the inter-communal violence taking place in the Central African Republic today. On January 18, he was shot in the arm in Bouar, in the country’s Northwest region. His arm had to be amputated. He was treated by Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in Bouar, and then transferred by plane to the Bangui Community Hospital, where our surgical teams continue to monitor his condition. Here, Dorassio waits to be moved into the operating room at the Community Hospital. This will be his fifth operation since he arrived at the hospital.