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Earlier this month, the National Burn and Reconstructive Surgery Center in Paraguay (CENQUER), the country's only public burn care center, received a significant donation from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The donation includes two complete dermatome kits with specialized tools for collecting skin grafts to enhance reconstructive surgeries, particularly for pediatric patients. This equipment will enable the hospital to increase both the number and quality of grafts, reducing wait times and minimizing damage to graft donor sites.
Center director Dr. Saúl Saputovich expressed gratitude for the donation. He noted that before receiving this equipment, the hospital had only a partially functional dermatome, which limited their ability to perform more than 10 daily surgeries required. With these new tools, the hospital can now perform more precise and less-invasive skin grafts, improving patient recovery. Dr. Saputovich mentioned that the electric dermatome would also reduce graft collection time and enhance aesthetic outcomes, especially in pediatric cases.
The donation includes a 42 mm-wide dermatome for children and an 80 mm-wide unit for adults. Previously, the center relied on a single manual scalpel, which posed a higher risk of graft complications.
The National Burn and Reconstructive Surgery Center is a referral hospital treating patients with severe burns and providing comprehensive rehabilitation from initial care through reconstructive surgeries and long-term follow-up. The hospital performs over 1,500 major surgeries each year, primarily treating children from low-income families.
Diego Podrozo, a local Latter-day Saint leader in Asunción, expressed the Church’s commitment to work alongside the Ministry of Health and CENQUER. Deputy Minister of Health Santiago García thanked the Church for its support, emphasizing "the importance of collaboration between medical staff and institutions to improve care for burn patients."
