Interview: Cuban Specialist Urges Burn Prevention Awareness countrywide

Dr. Caridad Lopez San Luis, a Cuban-born plastic and reconstructive surgeon based at Onguereva Medipac, has issued a heartfelt plea for increased awareness and caution during the winter season to prevent domestic burn injuries—especially among children.

In an interview with Future Media, Dr. Lopez, who has served in Namibia for 13 years, highlighted the surge in home-based burn injuries during colder months, often caused by boiling water, tea, or hot food. “Most of these incidents involve children crawling or learning to walk—exploring their surroundings and mimicking adults,” she explained.

Dr. Lopez specializes in plastic, reconstructive, and burn surgery, and emphasized that burn injuries are not only skin-deep. “The damage is also psychological and social. These children carry both physical scars and emotional trauma for years,” she said, recalling a powerful conversation with a five-year-old patient who confided that “no one knows what it means to get burned.”

Last year, Dr. Lopez launched a burns awareness campaign, and preparations are underway for this year’s follow-up in July. The campaign includes physiotherapy, orthotic support, psychological counseling, and education for both patients and caregivers. “We want to give our patients a sense of hope and community, and the media plays a vital role in helping us educate the public,” she said.

She urged mothers, caregivers, and nannies to remain vigilant during the winter, stressing that 90% of childhood burn cases occur at home and are preventable. “This is a call from the heart. These accidents don’t just burn the skin—they impact lives permanently.”

Dr. Lopez encouraged the public to support the upcoming July burns campaign and said that patients from across Namibia and even neighboring countries are welcome to attend. “It’s not just medical help—it’s a journey of healing and support,” she said.

The post Interview: Cuban Specialist Urges Burn Prevention Awareness countrywide first appeared on Future Media News.

The post Interview: Cuban Specialist Urges Burn Prevention Awareness countrywide appeared first on Future Media News.