Management, Patients Hail DWB For Equipping Kumba District Hospital

Dr. Paul Enongene presents donated generator to City Mayor, Assistant SDO and the public

The Kumba District Hospital Director, Dr. Paul Enongene Ngang; Board Chair, Gregory Mewanu; patients and some beneficiaries have hailed Doctors Without Borders, DWB, for donating medical and other equipment worth FCFA 247 million to the health facility.

They were equally thankful to international medical non-governmental organisation for its constant presence and commitment to saving lives and giving health assistance to the poor and needy persons in Kumba and its surrounding communities.

The donation of a consignment of valuable and life-saving medical equipment to the hospital on September 2, is the outcome of a partnership agreement signed between the hospital and the humanitarian organisation on May 26, this year.

The items donated ranged from 165KVA generator, oxygen concentration, 2 patients monitor, solar energy in operating rooms, pulse oximeter, vacuum aspirator, overhead 12,000 litres of water, washing machine, among others.

Addressing administrative authorities, traditional rulers and other dignitaries, the Hospital’s Director, Dr. Paul Enongene, said he was happy for the work the organisation is putting alongside the hospital geared at improving healthcare services to the population.

“We are happy for the support they are providing,” he said, adding that, “Before the donation of this generator and with the epileptic power supply in Kumba, the hospital was in a constant blackout because the old generator, which had lasted for about 18 years, was in constant breakdown, but now we are comfortable”

The medic furthered that they have equally had problems of water supply from the regular source but “DWB has rehabilitated the system and provided us with 12,000 litres which have ensured a constant flow of water. Apart from the equipment and infrastructure, DWB also supports us with human resources like surgeons, nurses, support staff, anesthesiologists,” he said.

At the emergency, pediatric and neonatology unit, in patient and surgical wards where this DWB personnel are directly involved with the hospital not leaving the 24/7 ambulance services,  testimonies abound for the job they are doing. The Director remarked that DWB pays for hospital bills, provides food and free treatment for patients under their care.

Talking to the press, the Southwest Emergency Coordinator/Head of Mission for DWB, Zakaria Mwatia, said the Kumba District Hospital is a referral hospital which many districts depend on. According to him, it was crucial that DWB supported and improved the quality of healthcare in the facility.

Zakaria Mwatia equally revealed statistics as to the number of patients they have assisted in Kumba and the Region at large. The highest percentage of those they have attended to are women and children. He, however, wished that the equipment donated should be properly used for the purpose they were donated.

The City Mayor to the Kumba City Council, Gregory Mewano, who doubles as chair of the hospital management committee said: “We can not say thank you enough for reaching to all without discrimination. Thank you to the workers who put their life in the line and thanks to donors especially, who put their money to humanity “.

Patients, Beneficiaries Testify

At the wards where DWB  is intervening, some patients, caregivers and even some who have once benefited from their largesse, expressed gratitude.

Grace Mbone, whose child DWB rescued said: “My son was seriously sick and I brought him to the hospital with a very small amount of money. From the emergency, they catered for him, bought his drugs including blood transfusion to him and, amazingly, they were giving us food tickets twice a day. I am forever grateful to them and their services are engraved on my mind.”

According to Prosper Mioka: “I was brought to the Kumba District Hospital in severe pains. After doctors of the hospital tried for days and, for lack of some equipment which my surgery need, my condition was deteriorating. I had an emergency referral to Limbe very late. It was their [DWB] ambulance which carried us to Limbe and even when we got to Limbe where they too could not handle my case, the ambulance transported me the same night to  Buea. I am grateful to them putting their lives on the line driving across the dreaded  Kumba-Buea road late at night, something all commercial cars will reject. May God bless them.”