Ortho FOCOS
www.orthofocos.org/
MISSION

In 2012, the FOCOS Orthopedic Hospital opened its doors in the capital city of Accra, Ghana, as one of the most state-of-the-art facilities of its kind. This 50 bed facility offers specialist consultations, radiology and laboratory services, surgery, physiotherapy, and more.

The ultimate FOCOS vision is to create a sustainable infrastructure for continued quality care. Four times each year, world leading spine surgeon and founder of FOCOS, Dr. Oheneba Boachie-Adjei, leads teams of volunteers to Ghana to work alongside the local staff of over 150 allied medical professionals. Sharing knowledge and experience, FOCOS volunteers train, educate, and empower local employees with the tools necessary to provide optimum services.

Since inception of the FOCOS program in 1998, more than 1,000 complex spine and joint replacement surgeries and over 27,000 patients have been treated.

IMPACT
14
Patients
2
Countries
240
Donors
Patients at Ortho FOCOS

"Rosemary is very hopeful she will be well," says our medical partner in Ghana, Ortho FOCOS (OF). "She is thankful to all who wish to help her get well, more especially OF hospital for the love, support and willingness to help her stand tall." 18-year-old Rosemary has scoliosis, or a curvature in her spine. "She has minimal back pain but is unable to engage in strenuous activities," OF tells us. "She also cannot walk a long distance. She is the only person in her family with this deformity and as a result she is sometimes discriminated against. This makes her feel sad most of the time." Rosemary's parents have both passed away, and she lives with her five siblings. She has one older brother, but he is unable to pay for scoliosis surgery to straighten her spine. The FOCOS Sponsor A Patient Fund has contributed $7500 to Rosemary's surgery, but she still needs an additional $1500 to cover the remainder of the costs. Rosemary hopes that after surgery, she will be able to continue her studies without feeling embarrassed in front of her peers. "She dreams of becoming a nurse in the future," says OF.

$1,500raised
Fully funded

"Augustina is the first of two children of her mother who is a single parent," says our medical partner, Ortho FOCOS. "She is currently in school studying with the hope of becoming a lawyer and a writer in the future." Augustina is a 15-year-old girl from Ghana. She was first diagnosed with scoliosis in July 2013, and was supposed to undergo surgery the following November. However, due to a lack of funds, she had to cancel the surgery. She still lives with scoliosis, almost two years later. "She is unable to do strenuous work and can no longer attend school," says OF. "Her condition has affected her social life because she feels uncomfortable in the midst of her colleagues. She has resorted to putting on very big clothes to conceal her deformity whenever she attends any social gathering." Raising Hope Africa and FOCOS has contributed $7500 toward the cost of Augustina's corrective treatment. However, she still needs $1500 to fund overseas preparation and transportation to receive care. "With surgery, Augustina is expected to live a full, productive and healthy life," OF tells us. "She feels hopeful that she will one day get the needed support to help her undergo surgery."

$1,500raised
Fully funded

This is Seada, a 19-year-old young woman from Ethiopia. “Seada lives with her parents and older sister in a single room hut in a remote village," explains our medical partner, Ortho FOCOS (OF). "She is unable to work and is supported by her parents who are peasant farmers. Seada is in school and dreams of becoming an entrepreneur. She also loves to read.” Seada has kyphosis - an unnatural curvature of her spine that creates a large hump on her back. "She cannot work and is often teased because of her condition. Walking is very difficult and she is unable to lay on her back. She is in a great deal of pain,” explains OF. For $1,500, Seada will receive corrective surgery, from which she “is expected to receive significant benefits. It will stop her condition from progressing and will save her life. She is not expected to return to a ‘normal’ stature, but she will see significant gains,” explains OF.

$1,500raised
Fully funded

"Molto is currently in school and loves to read. He hopes to be a medical doctor so he can care for the sick and support the poor in his village," shares our medical partner, Ortho FOCOS (OF). Meet Molto, a 19-year-old young man from Ethiopia. Molto has five siblings and lives with his parents, who are both farmers. His family produces only enough income to feed the family, with no money remaining. Molto has kyphoscoliosis, a severe curvature in his spine. “Molto’s condition started three years ago and has worsened with growth. He has difficulty breathing and cannot walk very far,” explains OF. Without proper treatment, Molto will continue having trouble moving and breathing which will affect his schooling and future plans. However, for $1,500, Molto will receive surgery to correct his spine. “I am very grateful for this opportunity and am touched by the hearts of those who wish to support me,” says Molto.

$1,500raised
Fully funded

"A surgery will bring her back to life and will open so many doors for this young child," says Dora's schoolteacher. 14-year-old Dora is a stellar young woman and student from Ghana. "Dora loves to play sports and is passionate about becoming a doctor or nurse," says our medical partner, Ortho FOCOS. "She is a brilliant student and is always amongst the top of her class." For several years, Dora has lived with scoliosis- a sideways curvature of the spine that leads to pain and difficulty with walking. Dora is often teased by her peers when she cannot participate in activities such as sports. The FOCOS Patient A Fund has contributed $16,500 for Dora's surgery, which will correct her spine and eliminate all symptoms. However, an additional $1500 is needed to cover the full cost. Dora's family is not in the position to pay the additional funds. "Her father sells secondhand clothes and her mother is a petty trader," says Ortho FOCOS. "The whole family lives in a single room in a suburb of Ghana." Dora's teacher introduced her to our medical partner, and now there is hope for her full recovery. Let's help make it possible!

$1,500raised
Fully funded

"Mengistu is very likeable and intelligent," says our medical partner, Ortho FOCOS (OF). "He is currently in stage 1 at a local school and dreams of becoming a doctor!" Eight-year-old Mengistu lives in Ethiopia with his two siblings, father and step-mother. "The family lives in a two room mud house and does not have access to electricity or running water," says OF. Mengistu has kyphosis- an exaggerated rounding of the back. He has trouble standing straight and is developing a hunch back. He walks at a very slow pace. For $1500, OF can correct Mengistu's kyphosis and allow him to live without constant pain and discomfort. He is also expected to regain full mobility. "At such a young age with such a severe deformity, this surgery will save his life," says OF. Let's help make it happen!

$1,500raised
Fully funded

"Hilda takes inspiration from others and has not lost hope in her ability to recover," says our medical partner, Ortho FOCOS (OF). "She is very appreciative of all of those who are assisting with the raising of funds for her treatment." 12-year-old Hilda is a girl from Ghana who currently lives with congenital scoliosis, a curvature of her spine. "While she is not currently in pain, her deformity is progressively worsening," says OF. "She has become very withdrawn and is no longer socially engaged. Walking long distances has been difficult and she no longer engages in any sort of physical activity." In order to make a full recovery, Hilda will need surgery to correct her spine. The surgery costs $1500, and Hilda's family is unable to cover the cost. Her father is a civil servant, and her mother is a petty trader. The surgery is crucial for Hilda to grow and develop normally, and without pain. She is expected to make a full recovery. Hilda is passionate about drawing and dancing. She is a respectful, intelligent girl and one day dreams of becoming a nurse. Let's help her get there, and fund this important surgery!

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Samuel is a six-year-old boy from Ghana who received life-saving surgery back in August 2012 to reverse the effects of scoliosis. Our medical partners at Ortho FOCOS fully sponsored a procedure to place a rod to support his spine. Recently, Samuel has been unable to attend his required post-operative follow-ups because his family cannot afford the transportation costs to and from the hospital. He is now long overdue for his one year evaluation. The doctors are eager to make sure his back is healing properly. The hospital is willing to sponsor all of Samuel’s medical treatment, including post-operative consultations and x-rays, but they need our help to raise $100 for his transportation. Without post-operative care, the success of Samuel's surgery may be in jeopardy. Let’s make sure he can make it to his appointments!

$100raised
Fully funded

Meet seven-year-old Muhiya from Ethiopia! She is an only child and is in the second grade. Muhiya has developed a spine deformity that has rapidly progressed and has recently affected her ability to live a normal life. She has difficulty standing up straight, pain while lying on her back, and diminished mobility. Unfortunately, this has forced her to drop out of school, and her father’s passing has significantly impacted her mother’s ability to pay for the necessary medical treatment she needs. Muhiya will need to undergo surgery to correct her spine, however, she will be expected to make a full recovery! For $1,500, we can enable Muhiya to live a full, mobile, and active life!

$1,500raised
Fully funded

"Prince is a charismatic young boy who has high hopes for his future," a doctor at Ortho FOCUS, a Watsi medical partner, described. Prince hails from Ghana, where he lives with his parents and two siblings. He enjoys playing football and loves to read. He is currently a student in the sixth grade, and hopes to one day become a doctor. Prince has dealt with scoliosis since birth, causing him difficulty while walking and performing daily tasks. The doctor reports: "His condition has worsened quite a bit, and it is progressively making life more difficult for him. We are hopeful that successful surgery will return him to an active and long-lasting life." Surgical intervention will reduce side effects from the deformity, alleviate pain, and prevent further bending of the spine. The doctors predict a positive outcome that will allow Prince to return to a healthy, active lifestyle. Let's raise the $1500 needed to give Prince a better quality of life!

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Meet Teshom, a happy eight-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He is a second grade student who loves to read and dreams of becoming a pilot when he grows up. Due to extreme scoliosis, Teshom cannot stand up straight while walking, experiences chronic back pain and has difficulty breathing. He is unable to sleep while laying on his back and has difficulty performing daily tasks. With surgery, Teshom is expected to make a full recovery. The insertion of a growing rod into his spine will allow for natural growth and will prevent any future curvature of the spine. Although he will not be able to return to contact sports , the surgery will prevent further discomfort and significantly increase his quality of life. Let's work together to help Teshom!

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Tadesse has had scoliosis for most of his life. His condition has worsened over the past few years, and it's now so severe that it's reducing his lung capacity and making it difficult for him to breathe. Tadesse is a college student. He's studying biology in the hopes of becoming a teacher. He loves school, but isn't able to fully participate because of his scoliosis. He lives in Ethiopia, and traveled all the way to Ghana to seek treatment from our medical partner, which specializes in the kind of surgery he needs. For $1300, Tadesse will undergo surgery to correct his spine and restore his full lung capacity. This will significantly improve his quality of life so that he can once again enjoy the activities he loves. "My family would be glad for any help you can give me," Tadesse says. Let's make it happen for him!

$1,300raised
Fully funded