Between November 22 and December 4, 2025, a group of the Node Institute‘s medical professionals, from general plastic and colorectal surgery to gastroenterology, anesthesiology and nursing, embarked on a 12-day journey to Ethiopia. The medical outreach team, including our expert Dr. Akis Panoussopoulos, worked at the Madda Walabu University GOBA in the Oromia region.

The initiative focused on collaborating with local medical staff in the Operation Room, helping with their daily medical duties while sharing the latest medical methods to promote patient care. Additionally, the activities included lectures and talks addressed to the medical staff and university students. Last but not least, the expedition’s main focus was supporting the Goba Hospital by donating medical supplies and equipment since the healthcare institution is facing considerable resource shortages. 

Amongst all these activities, the NODE Institute team packed with them our BoxLap laparoscopic trainer along with our laparoscopic training modules and laparoscopic instruments. The main goal was to demonstrate the critical value of hands-on practice in advancing surgical skills in the field of minimally invasive surgery and clinical surgery altogether. Thus, during the trip to Ethiopia, the team organised an introductory BoxLap laparoscopic training session for the local medical professionals. The session allowed participants to gain valuable surgical training experience in a controlled, simulated environment, enabling them to build confidence and precision before performing procedures in real-world settings.

Overall, this experience was the perfect present for the BoxLap team in 2024. Thanks to the NODE Institute’s expedition, we got the opportunity to witness our laparoscopic training box travelling to Ethiopia for a great cause.