I am constantly amazed by the interest the rest of the world has in our elections. I was awakened by a text message at 5AM with a worker telling me that Obama had won the elections. Over the past few weeks we have heard comment that “we” are prejudiced because we haven’t had an african american president. Now that we have one the word around Koza is that he is thier “brother” because he’s Kenyan. i then heard it was his mother. But some figure it will make their chances of goning to the US
easier if not helping Cameroon more than the US does at this point. As you probably know, we live in an area with about 100,000 people in the surrounding area and mountains. Word travels around as if it were only 100. Word of mouth gets any interesting idea or news out to all very quickly. Whereas things like when vaccinations or other health related things dont seem to make it out at all.
We are in the season of bad malaria and much anemia. We do blood transfusions almost daily. And have had a number of children die from malaria and its effects. There are about 65 patients in the hospital. Pediatrics is entirely full and Adults has much overflow from Peds. We have seen our first case of meningitis this year. we have had two die recently from Snake bites. Another is in house and has had extensive debredement of her leg and is still quite sick. Please keep her in your prayers.
I am starting a Fund for those patients with Snake bites. Currently we purchase antivenum for 14000-15000CFA ($28-$30) and we sell it for 14000CFA. Most people need many vials(5+) and we try to minimize the number to one to three, to not increase the cost for the patients. Many patients refuse any further after 2 vials as the cost is so hight for them. I am starting a fund for those of you who would like to help specifically for the snake bite patients. I would like to give them the antivenum
for a huge reduction so that I feel free to give them as much as I need without thinking about the cost. So if you would like to participate in this specific area please mark your donation as “Snake Bite Fund” we use all donations in the way designated. If there is no designation we have been using the funds mostly for purchasing medications in bulk in Yaounde, to reduce our costs of purchasing meds.
Another long term goal of mine is to reduce the cost of treatment to all patients who come to the hospital. We are trying to get the agreement with the government so that we benefit from the funds normally given to a district hospital. This is turning out to being a long process, mostly due to the stalling of the local health district doctor. If you can think of any other LONG TERM solution I would be happy to know about it. I want a solution that will last even after I leave or after the donations
dry up. I would appreciate any input you may have in this regard.
In the mean time we have prices similar to other hospitals in our region but more than the local dispensaries (health clinics). Most hospitals care for people only as they have money to start treatment, we treat and ask for money at the same time. some are unable to pay anything for a while and they stay “prisoner” of the hospital till they pay or run away when no one is watching. wE have about 40 unpaid bills that we are still trying to collect from. Both systems, ours and the other hospitals,
have difficulties.
Keep us in your prayers as we continue to try to show Christs love in this spiritual battleground. In His Service, Greg