The Voom Foundation

“Expenses bank charges 182 freight - medical equip 15,674 hospital patient release 8,167 legal fees 1,250 medical supplies, equip 2,400 state of minn fees 25 travel costs 33,613 website costs 750 total 62,061”

“The voom foundation is an international medical humanitarian organization created by vincent ohaju in duluth, mn in 2004. Create a networking relationship between the voom foundation and nigerian medical practitioners and help voom identify areas of focus to include in future missions. The voom foundation provides independent, impartial assistance in nigeria (and its surrounding areas) to people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect, or catastrophe, primarily due to armed conflict, epidemic, malnutrition, exclusion from health care or natural disasters. The voom foundation provides independent, impartial assistance to those most in need. The vincent obioma ohaju memorial (voom) foundation was established to raise the country's standard of care and create sustainable medical education in nigeria.”

“Voom foundation is a 100% volunteer organization. A board of trustees and volunteer medical staff address organizational goals through both long and short term efforts. The long term vision of the voom foundation is to raise the standard of healthcare in nigeria by providing an independent healthcare facility that cares for all patients despite their ability to pay, similar to healthcare facilities currently run in the united states. Currently, the poor and vulnerable often suffer lower success rates and negative outcomes from treatable ailments due to geographic and financial barriers beyond their control. The distance to health care facilities were found to be a determinant of a higher mortality rate and cause a delay in decision to seek healthcare. This problem is particularly heightened in the rural areas of developing countries where the density of modern health care facilities is low and in settings where transportation system and road infrastructures are poor. Other barriers for indigent care are lack of education and finances. Affluent patients in nigeria have the financial means to access healthcare in a timely manner. Rapid and accurate diagnosis lends to a higher success rate and access to facilities allows them to have favorable outcomes. Many will even travel out of the country to receive treatment for less serious issues. So in 2004, and inspired by the death of his father who died a senseless death because he could not afford healthcare, dr. Vincent ohaju started voom foundation to address these needs and disparities. Dr. Ohaju, a native of nigeria received his education in the united states attaining his medical degree from university of north texas in fort worth, tx. He completed his internship and residency in general surgery at the university of north texas health science center in fort worth and his fellowship in surgical critical care and trauma surgery at the university of texas health science center in houston. He was the associate chief for the division of surgery and neuromuscular services at essentia health (formerly st. Mary's medical center) in duluth, minnesota. Dr. Ohaju is currently the trauma medical director for chi st. Joseph health in bryan, texas. In his current role he has elevated care for our trauma patients. In 2013, the voom foundation formulated a partnership with one of the top teaching hospitals in nigeria, the university of nigeria teaching hospital in enugu (unth). Unth is considered a cardiothoracic centre of excellence and began the only open-heart program in 1974 and by year 2000 had completed a total of 102 open-heart cases in a country with population 126 million at the time. Prior to the inception of this program, virtually all who were affected died without help, except for those who traveled to europe or america for treatment. In 2003, unth had abandoned the open-heart program due to financial burdens, lack of sophisticated equipment, lack of facility and union strikes which compromised service delivery for the hospital. The program took a back seat for 10 years until 2013 when unth chief medical director, dr. Chris amah, made it a priority to rebrand the hospital and expand service areas. At that time, voom foundation agreed to the international partnership and resumed the once abandoned open-heart program. Voom agreed to visit unth several times a year with a full cardiac medical surgical team that would lend knowledge and best practices in a teaching environment. Prior to the launch of the first medical mission in march 2013, installation of four icu bed with ventilators were required along with two fully equipped operating rooms for surgery. This was made possible through partnerships with essentia healthcare, abbott laboratory, valley laboratory, medtronics and the chico rescue mission. Open-heart surgeries resumed in march 2013, led by a voom volunteer medical team formulated in the united states of america. At this time this was the only open-heart program in the ent”