The Rector of the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, Prof. Richard Adanu, was on hand to support the opening. He described and expressed the need for more education for operating room personnel assisting trauma and orthopedic surgeons who manage fractures. Dr Wilfred Addo, who chairs the AO Alliance English-speaking Africa Steering Committee, presented a short history of AO Alliance activities in Ghana and in sub-Saharan Africa. Dr Claude Martin jr., AO Alliance Managing Director, commented on the silent epidemic of injuries and acknowledged The Coca-Cola Foundation for their generous grant which helped make the program a reality. Funding for education in the realm of injuries is difficult to come by. Lastly, Caroline Asare, Principal of the PONS school, thanked both the AO Alliance and The Coca-Cola Foundation for supporting nurses in their training, as it is even more challenging to attract funding for nurse training.
Throughout the event, participants commented on the opportunities provided by the course to learn from the best, interact with peers and being allowed to make mistakes in a safe and controlled environment. All left eager to get back to work and apply the lessons learned.
Through the program, the AO Alliance will train 80 trauma and orthopedic surgeons in April and July, and financial assistance will be provided to 450 patients treated at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Tamale Teaching Hospital, Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, and Komfo AnoKye Teaching Hospital.
