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Frequently Asked Questions
General
What is the relationship between AO Alliance and AO Foundation?
See Our Journey
Does AOA have any financial or contractual obligations with any medical technology companies?
We have no exclusive collaboration agreements with any pharmaceutical or medical technology companies, therefore we are open to donations and financing from any company, association, etc., that would like to support our cause. Non-exhaustive exclusion list: We do not accept donations or financing from the following industries: weapons, gambling, and others that do not meet our due diligence criteria.
What are the sources of AOA funding?
AO Foundation, UBS Optimus Foundation, Wyss Medical Foundation, and private individual donors.
How does AOA select the countries to be active in?
We select countries based on the recommendations of local champions through surgeon and nursing leadership. In addition, we do an in-country needs assessment to identify countries that would benefit most from our initiatives. Countries are selected based on where AO SEC operated in the past and the UN’s list of least developed countries in the world. As such, we have embarked on our AOA journey in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa which are within our financial means.
How is AOA different from other nonprofit medical initiatives?
Unlike most other nonprofit medical initiatives, we aim for community capacity building by working with local healthcare professionals, training doctors and operating room personnel on appropriate fracture care and management. We also collaborate with local communities via country-specific initiatives to improve care for the injured in LMICs, rather than treating patients ourselves.
What is capacity building?
Capacity building is the process of developing and enhancing the skills and resources that our beneficiaries need to provide timely and appropriate trauma and fracture care.
What are ORPs?
Operating room personnel
Transparency
Does AOA publish its results, its accounts and are the accounts audited by an independent agency?
We publish an Annual Report with audited financial statements. Our key initiatives are independently audited by the world’s leading surveillance company Société Générale de Surveillance: Malawi, Ethiopia, Ghana, Myanmar, Cameroon.
Who is AOA accountable to?
We are accountable to our donors, auditors, Board Members, beneficiaries and the communities we serve.
Participation
How can a surgeon, healthcare worker or volunteer get involved with AOA?
We welcome donations from private individuals who wish to contribute to our cause. Surgeons and operating room personnel who wish to join our faculty can contact us here.
Does AOA offer education events to any low and middle-income countries that request it?
No. The educational offerings are currently available in Sub-Saharan Africa and certain LMICs in Asia. Please reach out to us here should you wish to propose educational events in your country.
Does AOA have a membership to subscribe to?
We have not been established in such a way that allows us to provide memberships. But we invite you to subscribe to our newsletter.
Relationships
Does AOA act independently of government's health policy in countries where it is active?
We work with governments, especially health ministries, and always try to match our activities with their trauma and healthcare need plans and priorities. But we do not fund any government initiatives directly. All funds go directly to AO Alliance developed activities with our local partners.
