From Monday May 10, to Friday May 14, 2010, women requiring special breast reconstruction and reduction surgeries will have it done free of charge at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi. This pleasant news has been made possible via a collaboration between KATH and Restoring Emotional Stability Through Outstanding Reconstructive Efforts (RESTORE,) based in the US. A news release authored by Kwame Frimpong, Public Relations Officer of KATH, said the aim of the exercise is to accomplish a number of reconstructive surgeries, mainly of the breast. “Persons with severe abnormalities of the breast, such as excessive breast tissue in young females, absence of one breast and extra large breast tissues, are encouraged to report to the Breast Clinic of KATH for screening and possible selection for the breast reduction and reconstructive surgery,” the statement indicated. Persons with severe facial or body deformities are likewise invited to report for the screening, and possible selection for surgery, the release continued, adding, “Surgeons with interest in breast reconstruction are invited to participate in this programme.” RESTORE was founded by US based Ghanaian, Dr. Michael K. Obeng, Chief Plastic Surgeon at St. Elizabeth Boardman Health Centre and an assistant professor at the University of Pittsburg, USA. As a Non Profit Medical Services Organization, RESTORE has over the years been providing free reconstructive surgery and related medical services to abused children and battered individuals with accidental and congenital deformities. Last year, KATH and RESTORE officials collaborated and successfully performed the hospital’s first immediate breast reconstruction on a patient who has undergone a mastectomy, which is the removal of the breast due to cancer. The team constructed a new breast for the patient using her abdominal tissue, after the original breast had been completely removed due to cancer. From I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi