A visiting United States medical team of volunteers has performed more than a dozen hip and knee replacements at Majuro hospital in the Marshall Islands during the past week.
The Canvasback Missions volunteer teams have been performing knee and hip replacements at both Majuro and Ebeye hospitals for several years, as the surgery is not usually available in Majuro.
In the first four days of their 10-day visit, Canvasback doctors have seen 163 patients and performed 11 surgeries.
The Canvasback medical team conducted almost 700 surgeries and procedures in 2013, saving the Ministry of Health money that would otherwise have been spent on off-island medical care.
Jamie Spence and his wife Jacque founded Canvasback in the 1980s to provide free medical care in the islands.
An ear-nose-throat specialist team is expected to come to Majuro in late August.
