10th Anniversary

SAWW was founded by Dr Roger Eltringham, an anaesthetist who was concerned about the glaring inequalities in anaesthesia services around the world.  Since 2011, SAWW has supplied anaesthesia equipment, training, and research to prevent suffering and save lives in remote and challenging locations worldwide. You can read about some of our highlights and achievements on this page and learn more by downloading our ten year review. 

Equipment donated by SAWW has enabled the treatment of well in excess of 15,000 patients and has included:

• Repair of cleft lip and palate in children
• Caesarean section for obstructed labour and other obstetric emergencies
• Repair of obstetric fistulae injuries from childbirth
• Hernia repairs
• Removal of malignant and benign tumours
• Treatment of wounds, fractures, crush injuries and burns.
• Amputations
• Laparotomy, splenectomy, cholecystectomy
• Respiratory support and oxygen therapy
• Resuscitation
• Sustaining premature and sick babies

SAWW has supplied appropriate anaesthesia equipment to 76 different hospitals in 31 countries. We donate equipment that works reliably and economically in resource-poor locations, giving anaesthesia providers the right tools for the job. SAWW continues to provide help with spare parts and servicing, to ensure the longevity of donated equipment. 

SAWW has donated 43 anaesthesia machines to low-resource locations. These machines were often accompanied by additional vitally needed items such as ventilators, patient monitors, pulse oximeters, capnographs, laryngoscopes, sphygmomanometers and stethoscopes. 

We have sent portable anaesthesia machines urgently needed to treat casualties following natural disasters in Nepal and the Philippines, and in response to conflict in DRC, Cameroon and Syria. 

We have supplied portable anaesthesia machines used by doctors who run mobile outreach surgical clinics to reach poor patients in remote locations in Somalia, Cameroon, India and Nepal. 

SAWW has donated specialist breathing equipment to neonatal units to assist vulnerable premature and sick babies. We have donated 22 life-saving CPAP devices; 100 suction devices; and innumerable accessories for use in neonatal intensive care units. 

In the past ten years we have supplied 17 hospitals with equipment to improve oxygen supply, primarily oxygen concentrators, as well as flow splitters, oxygen storage systems, pulse oximeters, and oxygen analysers. SAWW has prioritised oxygen provision in the face of the COVID19 pandemic.

SAWW has supported research to use a solar powered oxygen generating device for low-resource settings where oxygen and electricity supplies are absent. We also supported the development of the first device for delivering low doses of sevoflurane for pain relief in labour, where other options are not available.

We have worked with anaesthesia professionals from around the world who have volunteered to share their skills and provide training in low- and middle-income countries. We are extraordinarily grateful for their help.

SAWW has enabled 200 anaesthesia providers to engage in Continuing Medical Education and attend conferences. CME is essential to maintain and improve skills, knowledge and standards of healthcare.
 

SAWW arranged the first anaesthesia refresher courses to be held in Kagera region of northern Tanzania. 

SAWW helped to fund the very first anaesthesia conference to be held in Somaliland – Safe Anaesthesia for Somaliland or SANSOM. 

SAWW's work was only possible thanks to our invaluable supporters, donors, and volunteers. A huge thank you to every single one of you. We couldn't have done it without you. To download our 10 Year Review please click the link below.