British team to help abandoned, orphaned children

TIRANA, Sep. 14 – The British Embassy in Tirana reported that children from throughout Albania who have been left abandoned or orphaned would receive medical help, free of charge, during September when a UK orthopedic team comes to Durres.
On Sept. 25, a British Medical team will fly to Albania to perform a weekend, ‘Treatment and Training’ screening. In partnership with the orthopedic department of the Durres Hospital and local NGOs, the venture is being organized by The Foundation For The Relief Of Disabled Orphans (F.R.O.D.O.) and supported by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Social Services.
For two days Sep. 25-26 the FRODO team will work in partnership with the hospital staff to provide full medical assessments ensuring children have access to appropriate treatment – free of charge. Children will be suggested physiotherapy programs, orthoses or perhaps surgery when the team returns to Albania later in the year. FRODOs primary focus is on children who would not normally be seen, particularly orphaned and abandoned children and children from poor families or deprived backgrounds.
Vanessa Cummings, Chief Executive of the charity explains “The objective of the F.R.O.D.O. program is to take medical professionals from the UK and the USA to work alongside local hospital staff in helping to treat abandoned children with complex medical conditions. Surgeons from overseas will assist in training local medical professionals, who can then spread their knowledge within the country and elsewhere. ‘Treatment and Training’ missions to date have focused on orthopedic problems; however F.R.O.D.O. has plans for future missions to focus on various conditions, including cardio-vascular illnesses.
F.R.O.D.O.’s September trip will be lead by two internationally renowned and respected surgeons – Dr. Mark Paterson and Dr. Manoj Ramachandran.
Dr. Calin Potor, manager of Alba county hospital, participant of a previous Treatment and Training mission says that “Although these missions will not solve the whole problem of vulnerable children, they will certainly set an inspiring example to local doctors, who should pay more attention to disadvantaged children, particularly to those orphaned and abandoned,”