The vulnerability of patients of Kidney failure is one that requires particular attention in situations of pandemic like the COVID-19 pandemic. It is for this reason that as part of its nationwide contribution to the fight against the COVID-19 in Cameroon, the NDES FOUNDATION on the 30th of April 2020 handed over a donation of 500 face masks to the Director of the Regional Hospital Buea to assist patients of the Hemodialysis center cope with the disease.
The foundation’s Public Relations Office, Marvin Enyih headed a team of four that included, the Vice President Ruth Ayineh, the Vice Secretary Gillian Yenla and Nde Paffilakis – to the regional hospital Buea. The activity which started at 11.a.m took place in the Hemodialysis center of the hospital in the presence of the Director of the Regional Hospital Dr. Martin Mokake. In attendance were several hemodialysis patients scheduled for dialysis on the day. The Director received the 500 masks and expressed his immense appreciation stressing on the vulnerability of the hemodialysis patients to the COVID-19. He therefore reiterated the immense importance of the masks to the patients who more often than not can’t afford the cost of dialysis not to mention the masks. In his words, the masks were going to save thousands of lives. He further graved the indulgence of the foundation to extend the distribution of the masks not just to the patients of the hemodialysis center, but to other needy patients of the hospital as well as medical personnel. After his word of appreciation, the masks were distributed to the patients who all expressed their appreciation to the foundation for continuously coming to their assistance in times of need.
It is worthy to note that this activity was made possible thanks to micro grants received from international donors such as The Pollination Project and Global Giving who were glad to extend their financial support to the NDES FOUNDATION to flatten the COVID-19 curve in Cameroon. The donations in Buea were just part of the nationwide distribution that included a total of 2 000 masks distributed to the regional hospital of Bamenda, the district hospital of Mbengwi, churches, senior citizens homes and IDP communities in the Littoral region as well as some local councils in the West and Adamawa regions of Cameroon.
In just under a year, the foundation as taken to the hemodialysis center as the base of its charity health care assistance. The center has received several financial and material assistance from the foundation in the past and were not surprised to see the foundation come to their aid once more.
Surely, with this constant support these patients and the regional hospital as a whole will be able to beat the COVID-19 in Cameroon