On August 26th, the PCRF signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Chilean Pediatric Surgery Society (SCHCP) in Santiago. Signed by PCRF President/CEO Steve Sosebee and CPSS President Dr. Francisco Saitua, the agreement stipulates that the SCHCP will provide surgical support to the PCRF in sending volunteer teams of surgeons and other medical personnel to treat patients and train professionals in the Middle East in an effort to improve the quality of health care. The SCHCP will provide at least one pediatric surgical mission each year to Palestine, while the PCRF will provide support in covering the basic costs of the mission (air fare, accommodations and food) for up to two weeks. The agreement also offers the opportunity to provide treatment for sick or complex cases who cannot be treated in Palestine, and also short-term training courses for Palestinian doctors in Chilean teaching institutions. This is the first major agreement between the PCRF and a surgical society. Ten Chilean surgery missions have already been sponsored since 2008 by the PCRF in the West Bank, providing free care for hundreds of Palestinian children with birth defects, burns, urological and orthopedic disorders.
