Conditions We Treat
One4Another’s primary focus is providing life-changing surgeries for children in Uganda who would otherwise not be able to afford it.
Many children in Uganda are born with debilitating conditions resulting in a lifetime of suffering and exclusion. Ugandan parents often find themselves with an impossible decision between their families’ financial survival or the life of their child. Parents go deep into debt selling off their most valuable possessions in order to pay for their children’s hospital bills. We don’t think it should be this hard. With the generous support of our donors, we can ease the burden of these families and shift the trajectory of a child’s entire life.
We focus largely on orthopedics but also do general, plastics, and more specialized pediatric surgeries. The majority of our surgeries and rehabilitations are done through our partnership with St. James Orthopedics & Surgical Center at our facility in Jinja, Uganda. We partner with hospitals and surgeons outside of our center if more specialized care is required. Treatments usually cost between $300 – $1,500, depending on the condition. It’s more than a surgery!
Clubfoot
1 in 1000 babies born, all around the world, is born with a clubfoot. The key difference is that babies in developing countries do not necessarily have access to treatment. We use the Ponseti Method of castings and bracing for babies below 2 years of age. Older children who have been walking on their feet often require a surgical intervention.
Clubfoot is a correctable condition yet many kids in Uganda grow up walking on deformed and painful feet due to lack of access to treatment.
AVERAGE COST | $350 for BABIES under 2 yrs
AVERAGE COST | $1000 for KIDS over 2 yrs
Osteomyelitis
Osteomyelitis is an infection of the bone and usually occurs in the long bones. It is a common condition for children in Uganda and is caused by factors related to poverty such as lack of access to basic health care, poor nutrition, and poor immunity.
Once past the acute phase of infection, it is difficult to treat without surgery. Dead pieces of bone and pus need to be removed and the site cleaned along with a strong course of antibiotics. Kids with chronic osteomyelitis suffer from fevers, pain, general unwellness, and a discharge which often produces a foul odour. Once the bone has deteriorated they often sustain a pathological fracture, the limb becomes unusable, and even more difficult to treat.
AVERAGE COST | $900
Anal Malformation
1 in 5000 babies born around the world is born with an anal malformation. These conditions can seriously affect the health or even survival of the child.
The most common malformation that we treat is when a child is born with no anal opening, or a very small opening. It requires a surgery to create a colostomy in order to pass stool. The child then needs reconstructive surgery to create the anal opening and finally, a colostomy reversal is performed so the child can pass stool normally.
AVERAGE COST | $1000/surgery
Bow Leg & Knock Knee
Leg deformities such as bow legs and knock knees are common for young children but usually correct themselves by age 4 and age 8 respectively. If the deformities persist or become more severe, they can cause pain, impair the child’s ability to walk, and cause osteoarthritis later in life.
Corrections can be made either through stapling the growth plates or cutting and pinning the bones to bring them into alignment. If these conditions occur secondary to trauma or bone disease, they also require osteotomies to achieve a straight axis.
AVERAGE COST | $1200
Fractures & Trauma
Children get into accidents and sustain fractures every day in Uganda. The most common cause of a fracture is being hit by vehicle on the roads or falling from a height. Fractures, are often treated first in the village setting by traditional bone setters which sometimes worsens the condition causing a malunion or nonunion. Children can spend the rest of their lives with a disability due to a poorly managed fracture given the unaffordability of surgical care.
Since fractures are usually caused by accidents families have no way of preparing for the costs involved. After seeking help in hospitals they often leave dejected and try local options in the village setting.
AVERAGE COST | $1000
Other
Beyond the conditions presented above we treat a variety of surgical problems including; hernias and omphaloceles, tumors and growths, contractures and burns, as well as amputations.
Costs for all conditions may vary slightly according to severity, age, number of limbs involved etc.
A small organization doing BIG things!
89% of donations received directly support surgeries.
11% of donations is used for admin & fundraising.
Impact
The aim of this work is to restore or improve bodily function which has a direct positive impact in children’s lives. From restored physical function they are able to engage more fully in their families and communities. These corrections are also deeply connected a child's self-esteem and sense of place in the world. It moves them from isolation to inclusion and hopefully playing with friends, going to school and one day having families of their own. A one-time intervention can change the course of a child's whole life.
Local
The work is performed exclusively by Ugandan staff and volunteers in order to competently engage the culture, language, and beliefs of our patients. The medical services at our center are carried out by our partner, St. James Orthopedic and Surgical Center, which is also a Ugandan enterprise. This means we can apply local solutions to the many challenges of delivering health care in this setting. We don’t rely on foreign medical expertise except for training or consultation purposes.
Faith
We’re motivated by the example of Jesus whose focus was on loving one another with special attention to those experiencing poverty, health issues, and children. This work is the embodiment of our deepest beliefs. We believe that all children regardless of their capabilities, economic status, and religious background are made in the image of God and are deserving of love, attention, and treatment. Our hope is that each patient comes to know the love of God through our care.
Subsidized Cost
The main reason children do not receive life changing surgical care in Uganda is because families’ cannot afford the costs. We believe all children should have access to treatment therefore we subsidize or cover the cost so that finances are not a barrier. We ask families to pay something, even if it is very little, because it improves patient follow up and outcomes. Treatment costs range from $350-1500 per patient. We often help with transportation costs since that is also a common barrier to treatment.
O4A’s catchment area
What is One4Another?
Watch this video to learn more about our organization and where it all started.
Support our work Today
By donating you are helping prevent a lifetime of disability and bring hope to the eyes of a child. You can make a one-time contribution, fund an entire surgery, or become a monthly donor.