Surgeons for Little Lives marks 10 years of transforming paediatric care
Every day for 10 years, Surgeons for Little Lives has stood beside children and families, providing life-saving care and support.
For the past decade, the Surgeons for Little Lives NPO has been a lifeline for thousands of children at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH) in Soweto, the largest hospital in the Southern Hemisphere.
In a healthcare system often stretched to its limits, this NPO has filled critical gaps with compassion, resilience and a belief that every child deserves the best possible care.
Since its 2015 founding, the NPO has walked hand-in-hand with doctors, nurses, patients and families, providing vital resources and transforming the hospital experience for young patients.
From upgrading surgical wards and equipment to nurturing the next generation of paediatric specialists and creating family-friendly spaces that offer comfort in the darkest moments, the NPO has made healing more than just a medical process. It’s become a human one.
“Our first 10 years have shown what’s possible when people come together with one shared purpose: To save and uplift the lives of children,” said Professor Jerome Loveland, the NPO’s founder and chair.
“We are proud of what has been accomplished, but know the need is growing. That’s why we will continue, every day, to build capacity, inspire future leaders and give every child a fighting chance at a brighter future.”
Why this work matters
SA has one of the highest burdens of paediatric surgical disease in the region. Children make up nearly 40% of the population, yet there are too few specialists and limited facilities to meet the demand. Severe burns, congenital conditions, childhood cancers and trauma are common, and without surgery, many would not survive.
At the CHBAH alone, the paediatric surgery department sees more than 11 000 patients annually and performs over 2 300 operations. Surgeons for Little Lives works with the Department of Health to turn overstretched wards into spaces where children can recover with dignity.
3 650 days of achievement
Hospitals can be intimidating places for children. The NPO has transformed the hospital environment with projects that include an outdoor play area for recovering patients, family sleep-over facilities and a revamped ward with a library, playroom and upgraded bathrooms. Most recently, it launched the Wells Paediatric Burns Unit, which doubled ICU beds, improved infection control, and added rehabilitation spaces.
For families, these changes mean children receive life-saving surgery and care in an environment designed with their needs in mind.
Beyond facilities, Surgeons for Little Lives has created programmes that focus on children’s emotional and physical well-being. Healing Through Art & Music gives young patients a way to process trauma through creativity, and the SCAN programme, launched in 2023, helps detect and prevent child abuse.
The NPO developed lactation support for new mothers in partnership with the South African Breastmilk Reserve. Other practical initiatives, from discharge packs to Mandela Day donations, have provided small comforts that make a big difference to lengthy hospital stays.
Training for the future
Paediatric surgeons are scarce, and training takes years. Over the past decade, Surgeons for Little Lives has supported the journey of 17 qualified surgeons and backed 15 registrars in training, supplying equipment such as surgical loupes and funding access to academic opportunities.
In 2024, the first Rolls-Royce Oncology Fellow, Dr Andinet Beza from Ethiopia, trained at the CHBAH before returning home with new skills.
“This initiative, along with other training efforts, is helping to build the next generation of paediatric surgeons equipped to deliver world-class care. Training these specialists is a responsibility we take seriously and a privilege we don’t take for granted,” said Loveland.
Community and partnerships
Community engagement has been central to the NPO’s success. Fundraisers like the Bara Ride and Joberg2C, together with job shadowing opportunities for young people, have brought South Africans closer to the realities of paediatric care.
Volunteers and donors provide not just resources but also comfort to families who spend weeks or months at a child’s bedside.
“This impact has only been possible thanks to the support of partners,” added Loveland.
“Contributions from corporates, foundations and philanthropists have funded essential equipment, upgraded facilities, supported family-centred programmes and helped fill critical gaps in care, ensuring that more children receive the treatment they need.”
A decade in numbers
• 11 000+ patients seen in the paediatric surgery department annually;
• 2 300+ operations performed annually at the CHBAH;
• 3 000+ burn patients treated since 2015;
• Mortality halved in the burns unit after upgrades;
• ICU beds increased from six to 11 in 2025;
• 17 paediatric surgeons trained; 15 registrars in training;
• Hundreds of families supported with sleep-over spaces, counselling, lactation services and more.
Get involved
Surgeons for Little Lives invites supporters, partners and the community to join in building the next chapter. By funding new projects, volunteering time or raising awareness, everyone can help ensure that more children receive the surgery and support they deserve.
For its 10th anniversary, the NPO calls on the public to donate R365, one rand for every day of the year.
In the hospital, that amount can cover burn dressings for a child, a week of meals for a parent at their child’s bedside or supplies for play therapy to make recovery less frightening, among many other things.
Every rand counts. Every day makes a difference.
For more information or to get involved, visit surgeonsforlittlelives.org
