Dear all,

Access to safe surgical care is a right for all yet a reality for few. I am a junior doctor passionate about global health and surgery. I hope to help more people around the globe get access to safe surgery throughout my career. In an effort to do so, I am raising funds for the charity Overseas Plastic Surgery Appeal (OPSA).

OPSA is a UK charity that has been offering reconstructive surgeries to patients suffering from unrepaired cleft palate and other facial abnormalities in Pakistan since 1998. So far, the team of surgeons has operated on more than 3000 patients!

The charity's work is led by a team of plastic and maxillofacial surgeons as well as anesthetist consultants and theatre staff. Every year the team travels to Gujrat, Pakistan twice and operates on up to 120 patients in just seven days.

There is a high demand for unrepaired cleft lip and palate and other facial abnormalities surgeries in Pakistan. Patients travel from all over the country to seek reconstructive surgery at OPSA's bi-annual cleft camp.

You can find out more about the charity and its work here: https://opsacharity.com

I am setting myself a fitness challenge this month. I never learned how to swim and it has forever been an unticked box on my bucket list. Over the last few years, I have learned to just about cover one length of a pool by doggy paddling my way across and even that leaves me huffing and puffing. So I am challenging myself to complete 400 lengths of the local swimming pool in 20 days. The challenge starts on the 1st of Feb and will end on the 23rd (giving myself three extra days in case I miss a day or two due to work).

I and OPSA would be ever so grateful for your support for the charity's work. It takes around £200 to operate on one patient. I am hoping to raise the funds to support at least 3 by the end of this month. The team is going out for their mission on the 26th of Feb and I'll be joining them to observe and learn from the outgoing and on-the-ground team in Gujrat.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.