The sum of 435000frs has been paid to the hospital’s almoner to assist some 70 persons dialyzing at the Bamenda Regional Hospital. This amount was put together by CWA, Mother of Good Counsel Branch, Catholic Church St. John Parish Foncha Street.
Receiving these close to 15 women the Director of the hospital Dr. Nsame Denis expressed gratitude for such a kind gesture. He painted a brief picture of the hospital (400 beds, 500 staff, 37doctors) and the unit where these patients are dialyzing which has 8 functional machines, 12 staff and a specialist. Director Nsame also explained a little more about the Kidney and its function and what people need to do to prevent kidney disease. He then opened a question and answer session for clarity and proper management of cases.
Talking on behalf of the Catholic women, their president Madam Fleur thanked the hospital administration for the collaboration towards such assistance. She stated that after seeing what others had done, her group was moved as mothers and decided to dip their hands deep into their pockets and see what could be realized. The sum of 435,000fcfa was raised to pay for 1 session each for 70 patients on dialysis then the balance will add up to pay for an extra session for clients who were not really financially stable. They equally handed an envelope of 50,000 frs to one patient to assist her carry out some examinations and begin her sessions. Given the scourge of COVID-19, the women also thought it wise to come along with hand sanitizers for all the patients.
Appreciating this gesture, Formin Cecile, Secretary General of the Association of Dialysis Patients Bamenda branch, overwhelmed by the kindness, said ” I lack words to express such an act of generosity. I sincerely thank you all because I know whenever you go to pass out urine you remember that there are people like us who are unable to and can only do so using machines and twice a month, reason you are here to see that we at least pass it out once. You didn’t end at that, you came with hand sanitizers to ensure that we stay safe from COVID19. We equally say thank you.” Formin Cecile like Oliver Twist, pleaded that these mothers could enroll as blood donors at the hospital given that there are some patients who often need blood and it’s difficult to get due to financial constraints ” Please if you can donate, or appeal to your loved ones to kindly do so, we will ever be grateful. Once they get to the blood bank and indicate they are donating for us the blood will definitely reach us. The hospital had given us a discount of 50% for all tests so we pay 12,000 instead of 24,000 and instead of 17,000 for a pint of blood we pay 11,000frs. We owe the hospital sincere gratitude for this. I will tell you that it isn’t still easy for some of us to afford. We indeed will appreciate your coming back.”
Responding to the Secretary General, President Fleur said she had documented all what was said. The group moved to visit the Hemodialysis unit where they were received by the chief of the center Mr Fon Wamucho, staff and patients on dialysis. They were shown around the unit for better understanding of how dialysis sessions are carried out. There was a symbolic handing over of the receipts to beneficiaries.
It should be noted that the visit of this CWA, Mother of Good Counsel branch, comes a week after UBa women were received at this same unit assisting these patients, some with10 sessions and others with 15 sessions.
