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Thanks to our generous donors, sponsors and dedicated volunteers, the Duncan Tree Foundation (DTF) Scoliosis Care Fund Project has brought relief to the lives of over 40 young people who suffered from scoliosis who live in Jamaica and the Philippines. 

Idiopathic scoliosis which is the most common type of Spine deformity affects 2-3% of the general population worldwide and can reduce the lifespan of an individual especially if it occurs early in life.

Early detection is therefore very critical to treat the small curves so they don’t become severely deformed and experience major disability. The severe deformities can claim lives prematurely by compromising the cardiopulmonary system.

When it comes to surgical treatment a nation needs advanced resources, both human and facility to undertake the complex and expensive procedures required. An organization like DTF has made it possible to organize volunteer teams from the US and obtained the support of medical device companies like Medtronic and Biotronic NeuroNetwork to donated instrumentation and equipment for the spine surgeries in Jamaica.

On the island of Jamaica the needs are real. Nearly 2-3% of nearly 2.8 million Jamaicans suffer from scoliosis. According to http://www.who.int that’s approximately 81,000 Jamaicans live with scoliosis and approximately 1% of these patients need corrective spine surgery.

Currently in one of Jamaica’s largest public hospitals; Kingston Public Hospital, there are over 300 hundred young individuals on a surgical waiting list (and the list keeps growning) for three years or more, who cannot afford corrective spine surgery. In Jamaica health care is ‘free’ for children 18 and under, however, the Jamaican healthcare system does not have the ability to provide implants, screws and rods which are necessary in this delicate surgery. Implants needed for corrective spine surgery can be a minimum of up to $50,000 Jamaican dollars out-of-pocket, per patient, where the average income is under $50,000 Jamaican dollars per year. In the US just 1 implant is valued at $1,700 USD and the average patient needs 15-20 screws.

Due to DTF’s efforts, from March 2012 to May 2014 40 people received free implants and spinal cord monitoring for corrective spine surgeries in Jamaica, and in March of 2014 four young people at the Southern Philippines Medical Center received corrective spine surgery in Davao City, Philippines.

DTF’s Scoliosis Care Fund Project goal is to provide free spine implants and surgery for those who cannot afford it. DTF would like to afford these individuals an opportunity to improve their health without the burden of financial deficiency in mind. We depend on private contributions in donated time and money to keep our program going.  

Scoliosis Research Society Endorses Duncan Tree Foundation Site at KPH 

Recently, during the Scoliosis Research Society’s (SRS) Global Outreach Program meeting in Lyon, France; in September of 2013, the members of the SRS officially added the Duncan Tree Foundation to their renowned list of endorsed SRS sites. 

Due to this major milestone, orthopedic surgeons from the United States, Europe, Asia and Africa will now be able to join DTF’s cause, and support DTF’s Scoliosis Care Fund Project at Kingston Public Hospital and Cornwall Regional Hospital by volunteering to teach, give lectures, help with capacity building and lend their support to Dr. Ian Neil the local surgeon in the Operating room.

For future progress and self-sustainability, the Duncan Tree Foundation would like our volunteers to teach and train local surgeons to support complex cases on their own. 

Thanks to the support of Medtronic Foundation and Biotronic NeuroNetwork and through the generous and continued support of our donors, highly skilled volunteers and our board of directors, since March 2012 Duncan Tree Foundation has assisted 44 patients in Jamaica and the Philippines and has welcomed new medical volunteers to the team.  

What the future holds for Duncan Tree with your continued support 

In the coming years, Duncan Tree Foundation is scheduled to return to Jamaica twice a year and to the Philippines once per year in partnership with Orthopaedic Link. 

With continued financial support, Duncan Tree Foundation would like to expand our efforts to 50 or more patients a year by 2017.  

Why we exist? 

Being healthy and having all of life’s essentials are not tangible objects that all people are afforded. Healthcare and well-being are without a doubt, crucial to one’s well-being.

 It is organizations like Duncan Tree Foundation that offer the opportunity for individuals who cannot afford it on their own; to receive free implants, spinal cord monitoring and safe surgical procedures at no cost with donated equipment, emotional support and spiritual guidance, to make a difference in the lives of many young people.

Education for prevention; reduction; treatment of non-communicable diseases, and recruiting medical volunteers in developing countries, are all prime contributing factors to the Duncan Tree Foundation’s mission. In all great efforts, Duncan Tree Foundation has taken initiative and action in ensuring that their efforts to impact neighborhoods, communities and single individuals are met.

We rely on your continued support for our Global Giving partners to help bring costly implants, spinal cord monitoring and gold standard surgeries to under served children in Jamaica and the Philippines who live less productive lives without corrective spine surgeries.

For more information about Duncan Tree Foundation, please visit our web site at www.duncantreefoundation.org.

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