Order of Merit for Prof Martin Lacher

For many years, Lacher has been particularly active in countries such as Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Tanzania, Nepal and Vietnam. There, he promotes the development of medical care structures, particularly in the field of paediatric surgery. In 2012, he established the Paediatric Surgery Foundation in Leipzig. The aim is to ensure long-term surgical care through voluntary work and targeted training on site. For example, a sustainable training concept was established in Hawassa in Ethiopia and the medical infrastructure was expanded at the same time, for example by building operating theatres and a neonatal intensive care unit. Three medically equipped containers with mobile operating theatres are currently on their way to East Africa. Lacher has been Director at Leipzig University Hospital since 2015 and specialises in congenital malformations and minimally invasive operations on newborns. In addition to his clinical work, he is also involved in cultural activities at the hospital, such as a donor-funded piano project for the Women's and Children's Centre. For his commitment, he was appointed honorary professor by the Universities of Hawassa and Addis Ababa. This honours both his outstanding medical career and his exemplary humanitarian approach.