The Vincent Obioma Ohaju Memorial (VOOM) Foundation was established to raise standard of medical care in underserved countries and create a sustainable medical institution in Nigeria. VOOM Foundation was born from the vision of Dr. Vincent Ohaju, Medical Director for Trauma Services at CHI St. Joseph Health in Bryan, Texas. Originally from the town of Ihitte, in South Eastern Nigeria, Dr. Ohaju had personally witnessed the effects of inadequate available medical care on friends and family. His father, Vincent Obioma Ohaju passed away in 1983 at the age of 56 due to complications from pulmonary aspiration. A simple procedure such as bronchosocopy readily available in even the smallest hospital in the United States could have prevented his demise. It was a close and personal reminder to Dr. Ohaju that over 95% of the people in Nigeria live without essential medical services. In 2016 the World Health Organization ranked Nigeria 187 out of 190 countries in healthcare. The Nigerian healthcare system is poorly developed and suffers from several recent epidemics. Despite Nigerian’s strategic position in Africa, the country is greatly undeserved in the healthcare sphere. Health facilities, expertise, personnel, medical equipment and major diagnostic modalities are inadequate, especially in rural areas. We are guided by the following principles: 1. VOOM Foundation aids populations with medical needs without discrimination and irrespective of race, religion, creed or political affiliation. 2. VOOM Foundation observes neutrality and impartiality in the name of universal medical ethics and the right to humanitarian assistance and demands full and unhindered freedom in the exercise of its functions. 3. VOOM Foundation’s volunteers work hard to respect their professional code of ethics and to maintain complete independence from all political, economic and religious powers.
