Foundation of Orthopaedics and Complex Spine (FOCOS) held its first-ever fundraising dinner in Ghana last Saturday to support needy children, who require complex spine surgery.
The maiden fundraising will sow the seed for the FOCOS Endowment Fund.
The event, which had the former President of Ghana, John Agyekum Kufuor as Guest of Honour, brought together close to 250 guests, comprising CEOs and top executives of various organizations across the globe, to support a worthy cause of making children with complex spine deformities receive treatment.
Also in attendance was the Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kyeremateng.
FOCOS, with the support of philanthropists the world over, established the FOCOS Orthopaedic Hospital in 2012 and ever since, has fully sponsored and carried out life-saving surgeries on at least 500 children with the selfless leadership of the Founder and President of FOCOS, Prof. Oheneba Boachie-Adjei, the internationally acclaimed spine surgeon.
Addressing the guests on the night, the Founder and President recounted his life experience prior to becoming an orthopaedic surgeon and also why he felt the need to establish the Foundation that has helped save many lives across the globe.
“In the Bible, it is said every valley shall be exalted, every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plane; this verse in many ways motivates and inspires the mission and vision of FOCOS,” Prof Boachie-Adjei said.
Former President Kufuor recounted his experience as a patient at FOCOS about five years ago.
He stressed the importance to encourage and have confidence in local talents and professionals in every endeavor.
He said “surgeons like the Founder and CEO of FOCOS, Professor Emeritus Oheneba Boachie-Adjei should be encouraged by ensuring that government supports the private sector with incentives…because if the private sector grows, it will then benefit and translate into the country”.
There were other speeches on the night by Board Chairman of FOCOS, Ambassador Fritz Poku and Dr. Rick Hodes of the American-Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (AJJDC), a foundation that sends patients from Ethiopia to FOCOS Orthopaedic Hospital every year, to undergo life-changing surgeries.
Dr. Harry Akoto and Dr. Kwadwo Yankey, two Spine Fellows at FOCOS Orthopaedic Hospital, received honours and acknowledgement as the first set of Scoliosis/Spine Fellows on the night of fundraising.
Award-wining Ghanaian artiste and a FOCOS Ambassador, Bisa K’dei, climaxed the night with a wonderful performance.
The FOCOS Fundraising Dinner will be held annually in Ghana in the month of May.
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