The World Pediatric Project was founded in 2001 as an International Hospital for Children, with the mission to link worldwide pediatric surgical, diagnostic and preventative resources to heal critically ill children in developing countries. Dr. Julian Metts, an Orthodontist in conjunction with the South Richmond Rotary Club, founded the organisation after returning from a dental mission trip. Dr. Metts during his trip witnessed many children who were suffering and dying from medical conditions routinely treated in the United States. On 1 March 2011, International Hospital for Children merged with a nonprofit organisation in St. Louis and became World Pediatric Project. The Milton Cato Memorial Hospital in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is the hub for the World Pediatric Project.
Project Summary
The goal of the World Pediatric Project is to provide 100% access to Pediatric medical services for children in seven (7) countries in the Eastern Caribbean and Belize. The World Pediatric Project plans to double the number of surgical teams sent to the region, from 17 to 34 teams by 2023. Each year the World Pediatric Project would like to ensure that all children who have treatable conditions are identified and granted access to consultation, surgery, specialist after care and therapy. The World Pediatric critical care spans the following sub-specialties of general surgery, cardiology and cardiac surgery, neurosurgery, urology, orthopedic surgery and scoliosis repair, ophthalmology, physical therapy and plastic and reconstructive surgery.
Early intervention in newborns, infants and children vastly improves the chances of saving or correcting a medical issue. The aim is to expand their representatives throughout the region to increase the mobilisation of surgical teams thus ensuring that access to much needed medical intervention occurs earlier.