Lifebox Foundation

Description: Lifebox is a global non-profit organization dedicated to improving the safety of surgery and anesthesia in low- and middle-income countries. The organization’s goal is to ensure that surgical teams everywhere can provide the safest care possible to their patients.

Organization Type: Non-Governmental Organization (NGO)

Headquarters:

• United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
• United States of America

Homepage: https://www.lifebox.org/

Mission and Vision

Mission:
To improve the safety and quality of surgical care in low- and middle-income countries by providing essential tools, training, and resources to healthcare providers.

Vision:
A world where everyone has access to safe surgical and anesthesia care, regardless of where they live.

Key Programs and Initiatives

1. Safe Surgery and Anesthesia Projects
   • Objective: Enhance the safety and quality of surgical procedures and anesthesia practices in resource-limited settings.
   • Activities: Distribution of essential surgical safety equipment, such as pulse oximeters; implementation of the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist; training of surgical teams on best practices in patient safety.
2. Training and Education
   • Objective: Build the capacity of healthcare providers through comprehensive training programs.
   • Activities: Workshops, online courses, and hands-on training sessions for surgeons, anesthetists, and nurses focusing on safety protocols, infection control, and effective communication within surgical teams.
3. Research and Advocacy
   • Objective: Promote global awareness and drive policy changes to improve surgical safety.
   • Activities: Conducting research on the impact of surgical safety interventions; publishing findings in scientific journals; engaging with governments, health organizations, and the public to advocate for safer surgical practices.

Impact and Achievements

• Distribution of Lifesaving Tools: Provided thousands of pulse oximeters to hospitals in low- and middle-income countries, significantly improving the ability to monitor patients’ oxygen levels during surgery.
• Global Training Programs: Trained over 10,000 healthcare professionals in more than 100 countries on the use of the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist and other critical safety practices.
• Improved Surgical Outcomes: Demonstrated a measurable reduction in surgical complications and mortality rates in facilities that have implemented Lifebox’s safety protocols and tools.

Core Values

1. Safety: Commitment to the highest standards of patient safety in all surgical procedures.
2. Equity: Ensuring equitable access to safe surgical and anesthesia care for all people, regardless of their geographic or economic status.
3. Collaboration: Working in partnership with local healthcare providers, governments, and international organizations to achieve sustainable improvements in surgical care.
4. Innovation: Continually seeking and implementing innovative solutions to address the challenges of surgical safety in resource-limited settings.

Lifebox Foundation is committed to making surgery and anesthesia safer for every patient, everywhere, by empowering healthcare providers with the tools, training, and support they need to save lives and prevent complications.