A patient with cleft lip before surgery (left) and after surgery

GRAFT Foundation to sponsor free reconstructive surgery in V/R

Salome Donkor Health Mar - 13 - 2019 , 11:21

Over the last six years, the Ghana Reconstruction of Anomaly and Trauma Fund (GRAFT) Foundation has evolved into one of the most prominent volunteer-based charity organisation in the country, sponsoring free reconstructive surgery for over 1,000 needy people in rural communities.

According to Dr Brainerd Anani, Projects Director of the GRAFT Foundation, the organisation, which is an award winning non – governmental, non-profit making organisation, sought to bring hope to the medically “hopeless” in rural Ghana by providing free reconstructive plastic surgery to bring smiles and reinstate them into society.

He said being the premier and only local plastic surgery charity in Ghana with Ghanaian surgeons that served the West African sub-region, the foundation was now poised to create an even greater impact.

Collaboration with GHS

Speaking in an interview, he said this year, the foundation sought to provide free surgeries for 100 needy people living in the Volta Region, indicating that in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service (GHS), the foundation would offer free reconstructive surgery for needy people from June 1 to June 8 at the Volta Regional Hospital, Trafalga-Ho.

Anomalies to be corrected include but not limited to, congenital birth defects, including cleft lip and palate, syndactaly, extra digits, neurofibromatosis, post burn contracture, genital filariasis, hypospadia, tumours and other swellings.

The journey, he said, had not been all rosy without thorns, pointing out that the foundation’s greatest assets had been its dedicated team of volunteers and the immense support from partners and sponsors who believed in the great vision of GRAFT.

Registration

He advised patients to register from now to May 6, 2019 at the regional and all district hospitals in the Volta Region, explaining that the screening date for the Denu District Hospital was June 7, that for the Volta Regional Hospital was May 8, with that for the Dambai Health Centre fixed for May 10, and stated that National Health Insurance card holders would be provided with services.

A similar programme was organised by the foundation in collaboration with the GHS and the Tamale Teaching Hospital to needy people in the northern parts of Ghana from May 21, 2018 to June 3, 2018 at the Tamale Teaching Hospital.

The foundation is calling for sponsorships and support from corporate Ghana and well-meaning individuals to cater for drugs, accommodation, feeding and transportation during the project.