The Foundation of Orthopedics and Complex Spine (FOCOS), a non-profit organization that provides access to comprehensive, affordable orthopedic care, hosted this year’s 2019 FOCOS New York City Fundraising Gala on Monday, September 23, 2019 at the renowned 583 Park Avenue event center in Manhattan.
This year’s esteemed guest of honor, the President of Ghana, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who received the organization’s Humanitarian Award on behalf of the Republic of Ghana, for the government’s longstanding support to FOCOS. H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo together with several other ministers and government officials graced the ceremony.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. Emeritus Oheneba Boachie-Adjei the President and Founder of the Foundation of Orthopedics and Complex Spine (FOCOS), expressed his worry over the huge numbers of people who still need care. He said, “Access to good quality orthopedic care and the lack of affordable insurance programs have denied many patients of the needed care for their orthopedic conditions. As I speak, there are about 3,000 children and adult patients on our wait list who need urgent medical care. Cost of surgery at our hospital is between $10,000 and $20,000 compared with $100,000 and $200,000 of similar surgeries here in the United States. Even at these highly-subsidized rates, made possible by your cash and in-kind donations, majority of our patients can’t afford to pay. Unfortunately, we don’t have the funds to provide them with the needed treatment. It is startling to know that 56% of the cases we see are life threatening.
The former Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College and Chief of the Scoliosis Service at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), narrated how he almost lost his life when he was seven years old. But for the magnanimous gesture of one Dr. Mensah of blessed memory, UK trained medical doctor who returned home who treated him free of charge, he would have lost his life. This has been his motivation to help cater for people in similar situation especially children. “It was his expertise, compassion and generosity that saved my life. This lesson has been my motivation to care for others.”
Adding to the plethora of commendations regarding the work of FOCOS, the New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo, said, “FOCOS’ leadership, staff and volunteers remain tirelessly committed to improving the health and wellbeing of underserved patients and families, and to advancing our state’s standing as a leader in health care service. I applaud the medical and non-medical professionals affiliated with FOCOS for donating their time, resources and talents to help others have the opportunity to stand tall.”
Appreciating the sponsors and donors who have stuck with the FOCOS mission and vision so far, Prof. Boachie-Adjei acknowledged among others : Wayne and Claire Heyland for supporting FOCOS programs in Ghana and Sierra Leone, Martin and Michele Cohen, the American-Jewish Joint Distribution Committee for funding patients from Ethiopia (over 1,000 surgeries, and counting); Stryker/K2M for supplying FOCOS with surgical implants, the Bloomberg Foundation, the Stavros Niarkos Foundation (SNF) and the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS). He also mentioned the Government of Ghana, the Ministry of Health, and Ghana National Petroleum Corporation for their unwavering support. The list goes on.
He concluded by appealing to all and sundry to especially the public and private sector organizations of Ghana, the USA and around the globe gathered to partner with FOCOS for the sustainability of the FOCOS Orthopedic Hospital. This he says will help Patient sponsorship, establishment of an institute to build capacity for research, education and outreach and capital improvements and facility maintenance.
FOCOS mission is to provide highest quality and affordable orthopedic care to those who would not otherwise have access to such treatment. For more information about FOCOS hospital and how to make a donation please go to www.focoshospital.org.
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