Mary Okine, aged 8, lives in an area near Accra where the tropical disease Buruli Ulcer is endemic. When we met her, bacteria had removed most of the skin from her right leg and were still active in her ankle.
The disease was halted through surgery, but there was a significant amount of reconstructive surgery needed to ensure that her leg would heal and be usable. Skin grafts were needed to cover most of her leg.
A new electric skin grafting dermatome brought out from Scotland and donated to the RPSB Unit in Ghana was instrumental in providing sufficient skin from her left leg and stomach to graft onto the affected areas.
Mary has recovered well and has suffered no disability.
