Surgeons for Little Lives

Surgeons for Little Lives Surgeons for little lives is a non-profit organisation with a powerful commitment to saving the lives of children.

Surgeons for Little Lives is run by a small group of Paediatric Surgeons, and ordinary people, passionate about uplifting the lives of less fortunate children needing life changing surgery. It was started with the overriding objective of raising the level of care given to patients in the Paediatric Surgery wards in state hospitals, in the Greater Gauteng area, to world class standards. Our chairma

n is currently Professor Jerome Loveland, Head of Paediatric Surgery at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, and The University of the Witwatersrand.

Research that doesn't just inform. Research that can help protect little lives.We are incredibly proud to share the publ...
24/08/2026

Research that doesn't just inform. Research that can help protect little lives.

We are incredibly proud to share the publication of important new research led by Dr Nirav Patel and colleagues in the World Journal of Surgery: Teaching Safety, Saving Skin: Preventing Childhood Hot Water Burns Through Caregiver Education in Soweto, South Africa.

The research addresses a devastating reality: burns are the leading cause of trauma-related death in South African children under four, while almost half of paediatric trauma cases at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital are burn-related.

This study also brings hope.

Working with caregivers in Soweto, the team investigated whether structured burns-prevention and first-aid education could change knowledge and everyday behaviour.
And the results were significant.

Following the intervention:
• Knowledge of the correct first aid for hot-water burns improved by 30.8%
• Appropriate checking of bath-water temperature increased by 40.3%
• Keeping stove tops at a safer height increased by 43.3%
• Keeping pot handles out of children's reach increased by 38.3%
• Handling hot drinks while holding a child decreased by 23.5%

The message is powerful: education can change behaviour and prevention can protect children before they ever reach a burns unit.

Surgeons for Little Lives is proud to have been part of the development and implementation of this burns-prevention programme alongside the research team and VIDA at Wits.
Congratulations to Dr Patel and the entire research team on work that has the potential to create an impact far beyond Soweto.

Read More:https://surgeonsforlittlelives.org/new/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Teaching-Safety-Saving-Skin-Preventing-Childhood-Hot-Water-Burns-Through-Caregiver.pdf

Some careers are chosen. Others become a calling.In 2016, while working in the Intensive Care Unit at CHRIS HANI BARAGWA...
21/08/2026

Some careers are chosen. Others become a calling.

In 2016, while working in the Intensive Care Unit at CHRIS HANI BARAGWANATH HOSPITAL Academic Hospital, Dr Anrie Le Roux recognised a gap in how suspected child abuse and neglect cases were being managed. Healthcare professionals often encountered these difficult situations but lacked the specialised support and resources needed to navigate them effectively.

Determined to make a difference, Dr Le Roux pursued further studies in forensic medicine, child law, bioethics and child health, with a vision to create a dedicated child maltreatment programme in South Africa. Inspired by the pioneering SCAN (Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect) Programme at SickKids Hospital in Toronto, she returned home and established the SCAN Programme at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in 2018.

Today, the programme is helping vulnerable children receive the protection, care and dignity they deserve.

Every child deserves to be safe. For more information, read: https://surgeonsforlittlelives.org/voices-of-hope/scan-program/

Happy Birthday, Graham! 🎉💙Thank you for generously giving your time, compassion, and support to our patients and their f...
19/08/2026

Happy Birthday, Graham! 🎉💙

Thank you for generously giving your time, compassion, and support to our patients and their families. Volunteers like you help make our mission possible, and we are incredibly grateful for all that you do.

Wishing you a birthday filled with joy and a year filled with blessings!

Shop with purpose. Change a little life. 💙Every purchase from the Surgeons for Little Lives shop is more than something ...
18/08/2026

Shop with purpose. Change a little life. 💙

Every purchase from the Surgeons for Little Lives shop is more than something for you, it’s a way to stand behind the work we do for children and families who need us most.

Wear it. Gift it. Share the mission. Most importantly, know that your support helps us keep making a difference, 365 days a year. 🤍

Want to shop for a cause? Comment “SHOP” below and we’ll DM you the link to purchase.

What if a few simple changes at home could help prevent a child from suffering a devastating burn?For thousands of South...
14/08/2026

What if a few simple changes at home could help prevent a child from suffering a devastating burn?

For thousands of South African families, hot-water burns are an everyday risk.
Research led by Dr Nirav Patel and colleagues found that almost 90% of the households studied relied on manually boiled water for bathing, while more than 70% were severely overcrowded.

These aren't simply statistics. They help us understand why preventing childhood burns requires education that is practical, accessible and relevant to the realities families face.
The research showed that structured caregiver education can make a measurable difference.
Simple actions matter:
🔥 Keep hot pots and cooking surfaces out of children's reach.
🛁 Always check bath-water temperature before placing a child in the water.
☕ Avoid carrying a child while handling hot drinks.
🚿 If a hot-water burn occurs, know the correct first aid.

Following the education programme, researchers recorded significant improvements in several of these behaviours, as well as a 30.8% improvement in knowledge of correct hot-water burn first aid.

The research also reminds us that education alone cannot solve every problem. Overcrowding and other structural realities continue to place children at risk, highlighting the need for broader interventions alongside caregiver education.
That's why Surgeons for Little Lives continues to support work that goes beyond treating injuries.

The best burn to treat is the one we can help prevent.
Share this message. It could help protect a little life:https://surgeonsforlittlelives.org/new/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Teaching-Safety-Saving-Skin-Preventing-Childhood-Hot-Water-Burns-Through-Caregiver.pdf

A little warmth goes a long way. 🧶Our little patients recently received a beautiful handout of handmade blankets, beanie...
12/08/2026

A little warmth goes a long way. 🧶

Our little patients recently received a beautiful handout of handmade blankets, beanies and teddies, generously donated through the FNB Knitting Programme, joined by Daparna Vallabh, Dr Cathy Pakdous and the Parents Association of St John’s College.

Behind every stitch is time, care and kindness and for a child spending time in hospital, these thoughtful gifts can bring an incredible sense of comfort.

We are so grateful to everyone who contributed and helped us wrap our little patients in a little extra love. 🤍

Thank you for continuing to help us change little lives, one thoughtful gesture at a time.

Happy Birthday, Adelle! 🎉💙Thank you for your leadership, vision, and unwavering dedication to changing little lives. You...
11/08/2026

Happy Birthday, Adelle! 🎉💙

Thank you for your leadership, vision, and unwavering dedication to changing little lives. Your passion and commitment continue to shape the future of Surgeons for Little Lives and inspire everyone around you.

Wishing you a year filled with happiness, success, and every blessing. Happy Birthday! 🌸

Happy Birthday, Stan! 🎉💙Today we celebrate you and the valuable role you play within the Surgeons for Little Lives famil...
11/08/2026

Happy Birthday, Stan! 🎉💙

Today we celebrate you and the valuable role you play within the Surgeons for Little Lives family. Thank you for your hard work, dedication, and the care you bring to everything you do.

Wishing you a fantastic birthday and a wonderful year ahead!

Happy Birthday, Janine! 🎉💙Today we celebrate not only your birthday, but the creativity, joy, and healing you bring to t...
09/08/2026

Happy Birthday, Janine! 🎉💙

Today we celebrate not only your birthday, but the creativity, joy, and healing you bring to the children and families we serve. Your talent helps transform difficult days into moments of hope and self-expression.

Wishing you a wonderful year filled with happiness, inspiration, and countless reasons to smile. Happy Birthday! 🌸

09/08/2026

Today, we celebrate the remarkable women who make hope possible.

To the surgeons, nurses, therapists, health promoters, administrators, volunteers, and every woman behind the scenes, thank you for the compassion, strength, and dedication you bring each and every day.

Your kindness comforts families, your expertise changes lives, and your commitment helps children heal with dignity and hope.

Today, and every day, we honour the incredible difference you make.

Happy Women’s Day to the women who care, inspire, and change little lives. 🌸

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