Every Scar Tells a Story -The Surgeon Who Turns Burn Awareness into a Movement of Hope
Dr. Amaka Ehighibe, a leading Nigerian plastic and reconstructive surgeon, is redefining burn prevention and recovery through her Annual Burn Awareness Campaign. Held every November—but championed year-round—her initiative combines education, outreach, and free care to reduce burn injuries, especially among children. In a world where burns remain a hidden public health crisis, her work brings healing beyond the operating room—turning trauma into transformation, and scars into symbols of survival.
Abuja, Nigeria — August 2025 — Each year, millions of people suffer from burn injuries—most of them preventable, many of them life-altering. While the world often looks away, one Nigerian surgeon is helping us confront the flames—both literal and emotional—head-on.
Dr. Amaka Patricia Ehighibe, a Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, doesn’t just operate on burns. She humanizes them. And through her Annual Burn Awareness Campaign, she’s creating something rare in medicine: a space where prevention meets compassion, and scars are treated not just on the skin—but in the soul.
In response to the rising burden of burn injuries across Nigeria, Dr. Amaka Patricia Ehighibe, Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon at FMC Jabi, has officially launched the 2025 Annual Burn Awareness Campaign — a multi-platform initiative aimed at reducing preventable burn injuries and supporting survivors through education, access, and advocacy.
Now in its fifth year, the campaign has evolved into a nationally recognized effort focused on burn prevention, survivor care, and public education. The 2025 edition introduces new school partnerships, a mobile fire safety tour across rural communities, and expanded access to free surgical consultations for pediatric burn patients.
“This campaign is about more than treatment. It’s about prevention, empathy, and empowerment,” said Dr. Ehighibe. “We are building a future where burn injuries are no longer silent tragedies.”
Campaign Highlights for 2025:
- School Safety Programs: Targeting over 50 public and private schools across FCT, Kaduna, Kogi, and Enugu, these sessions teach children and teachers the basics of fire safety and first aid.
- Community Outreach Drives: Market-based awareness sessions and rural fire drills will reach over 5,000 households, with multilingual materials tailored to each region.
- Media and Digital Campaigns: A nationwide radio and social media series will debunk common myths around burns and promote immediate, lifesaving first-aid responses.
- Free Medical Services: The campaign will provide burn consultations and corrective surgeries to select underprivileged patients—especially children with visible or function-limiting scars.
- Survivor Support Circles: Burn survivors will be connected to peer-led support groups, with psychosocial therapy provided through campaign partners.
A Community-Led Movement
What began in 2020 as a hospital outreach has grown into a movement involving schools, families, religious groups, and local media. Dr. Ehighibe, who also leads the Plastic Surgery Unit at FMC Jabi, believes that burn awareness must be embedded into everyday life—from how we cook to how we teach our children about fire.
“Many of the injuries we treat are entirely avoidable,” she explains. “A spilled kettle, a faulty gas cylinder, an open flame too close to play areas—these are things we can change with awareness.”
This year’s campaign will culminate in National Burn Awareness Week in November 2025, with a public symposium and survivor showcase held in Abuja.
Real People, Real Impact
The campaign has already transformed lives. From children returning to school after surgery, to adults reclaiming their confidence after workplace accidents, the stories emerging are powerful reminders of what prevention and care can achieve.
One recent beneficiary shared:
“Before the campaign, I hid my face for years. After surgery and meeting other survivors, I now train others on fire safety. I got my life back—and a purpose too.”
Why the World Should Care
Burn injuries don’t always make headlines—but they leave lasting marks on people, families, and systems. In countries without reliable fire safety codes, emergency response units, or affordable medical care, the risk is especially high.
That’s why public awareness is more than a message. It’s a movement.
“Imagine if fire extinguishers were as common in homes as mobile phones,” Dr. Ehighibe says. “Imagine if schoolchildren knew how to respond when someone is burned. Imagine if survivors could live without shame. That’s the world I want to help build.”
From Pain to Power: A Humanitarian Legacy
Beyond her clinical accolades and international honors, Dr. Amaka’s burn awareness work stands as one of her most human and lasting contributions. It speaks to the heart of medicine—not just to heal, but to educate, advocate, and protect.
She continues to work with schools, media outlets, and civil society groups to make burn education accessible, culturally relevant, and empowering.
Because every scar tells a story. And with the right care, some of those stories can end in hope.
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