In early 2008 a fact-finding mission went to the small West African country of Guinea-Bissau one of the poorest on the continent. The people are in the process of reconstruction after a long civil war. Before the first Interplast team arrived plastic reconstructive surgery was unknown in Guinea-Bissau.

Interplast was approached in early 2007 by Jan and Wil van Maanen. Jan is Honorary Consul for the Netherlands and the UK in Guinea-Bissau for more than 25 years. Thanks to excellent preparations on the spot the mission went well and many children could be operated. A second team is due to go to Guinea-Bissau in early 2009.