The son of north-east oil tycoon Sir Ian Wood has expanded his children’s surgery charity in four West African countries.
Garreth Wood co-founded the charity Kids Operating Room (Kids OR) alongside his wife Nicola at the start of last year, after deciding to dedicate his life and resources to full-time philanthropy.
The organisation aims to improve the lives of children and young people across the developing world through the creation of modern surgical rooms, designed to help those most in need.
>> Keep up to date with the latest news with The P&J newsletter
So far, the charity has expanded to twelve countries across East Africa and South America.
Today, Mr Wood will announce at a medical conference in Senegal that the charity will create a further six specialist children’s operating rooms in four West African countries.
The first of the new West African operating rooms will be in Burkina Faso, followed by new facilities in Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Gambia.
Mr Wood said: “More children die from surgically treatable conditions than from Malaria, HIV and tuberculosis combined.
“And far too many children live lives of abandonment, in pain or unable to attend school because of a surgically treatable disability or injury.
“That has to stop, and I am proud that Kids OR is helping to shine a light on this global injustice but, also, the sustainable solution too.”