2025 Moments that Mattered

This year, Lifebox worked side by side with local health providers, hospitals, and health ministries to make surgery safer for patients in dozens of countries. Through trusted partnerships and evidence-based programs, we focused on strengthening surgical systems, supporting teams to embed safer practices into everyday care, and delivering measurable improvements in patient safety. 

Below are a few moments from the year that capture the impact of our work. You can also download the brief here. 

Reducing Surgical Infections at Attat Hospital, Ethiopia 

In partnership with Attat Hospital in Ethiopia, Lifebox is implementing Clean Cut, our surgical infection reduction program focused on strengthening adherence to six key infection prevention practices, bringing together hospital leaders, nurses, and midwives to strengthen surgical infection prevention. The launch of the program combined hands-on training, process mapping, and implementation planning, building shared ownership and a clear pathway for  safer surgical practices to become part of routine care. 

Sierra Leone: One Year of Safer Surgery 

Connaught Hospital in Freetown marked the one-year milestone of its Safer Surgery Program – a surgical quality improvement initiative delivered with support from Lifebox, Mercy Ships, the Ministry of Health, and regional training partners. 

Over this first year, all six of Lifebox’s Clean Cut infection-prevention practices were embedded across surgical services, reducing risk before, during, and after surgery. Rather than a one-off intervention, the program supports lasting change through regular team meetings, clear action plans, and shared accountability across departments. 

Nursing Leadership in Rwanda and Ethiopia 

This year, we delivered our nursing leadership programme in Ethiopia and Rwanda, supporting perioperative nurses to grow as leaders and strengthen surgical safety within their hospitals.  

Through the Nursing Leadership for Surgical Excellence (NLSE) programme, nurses receive hands-on training, ongoing mentorship, and the opportunity to lead quality improvement initiatives. Across participating sites, teams are seeing stronger communication, more attentive post-operative care, and simple but meaningful changes – from better patient handovers to closer monitoring after surgery – that are already improving the experience and safety of care for patients and families. 

Strengthening Surgical Systems in Latin America 

With support from the IZUMI Foundation, Lifebox has been strengthening surgical and anesthesia safety in Latin America. In partnership with the Honduran Anesthesia Society, we have implemented SAFE OR and Clean Cut, reaching dozens of hospitals and training healthcare providers in teamwork, sterilization, and infection prevention.   

Lifebox also addressed a critical gap in anesthesia safety by introducing 84 capnography devices to facilities in Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala alongside training on its safe and effective use. In Guatemala, 99 operating rooms still lack capnography; in Honduras, that number rises to 113.  In El Salvador, anesthesia technicians lack training on how to use this essential device.    

Closing the Global Capnography Gap 

Many operating rooms in low- and middle-income countries still lack capnography, a critical device for ensuring patients breath properly during anesthesia. We have now supplied over 520 capnographs across 26 countries, highlighted in the map above.

Publication Highlight 

Lifebox published “Global Scaling of a Surgical Infection Prevention Program to 5 Low-Resource Countries” in JAMA Surgery. The published findings show that Clean Cut can be successfully scaled across diverse, low-resource health systems, significantly reducing surgical site infections and improving essential safety practices.  

Read the full publication here.    

New Leadership Guiding Lifebox Forward   

Strong leadership and governance is essential to sustaining impact at scale. This year, Lifebox welcomed Professors Thomas G. Weiser and Salome Maswime as Chair and Deputy Chair of our Global Governance Council, respectively; appointed four new members to the Lifebox Board; and continued to benefit from the commitment and leadership of our existing Board and Council members. 

Action for Women’s Health 

Lifebox was selected as an awardee of Action for Women’s Health, funded by Pivotal an organization founded by Melinda French Gates. We were selected from among 4,000 organizations across 119 countries – are one of just 80+ organizations receiving an award.  

The award recognizes the impact of our work to make surgery and anaesthesia safer for patients in low-resource settings, particularly for women, who face higher risks when access to safe surgical care is limited. Thanks to supporters like you, we are able to demonstrate impact, build strong partnerships, and secure investments that help sustain and scale this work. 

These moments show what’s possible when local leadership and proven solutions come together to make surgery safer.

As the year ends, we invite you to help expand lifesaving training, essential equipment, and locally led programs that protect patients and families worldwide by donating today. Thank you for being part of this global effort to make safe surgery possible for all.