In January 2017, I returned to Ngaoundal, Cameroon for the second time, after eight months of my previous experience. The affectionate welcome on behalf of the Sisters was very beautiful because I could feel at home, one of them. Even the hospital personnel whom I had known the previous time, gave me a hearty welcome.
The organisational conditions of the hospital improved and thus the hospital offers better services to the people, thanks to the sisters’ constant and priceless commitment. Although not constantly, due to the absence of surgeons during certain periods of time, the operating theatre functions to assure not only the routine operations, but even when urgencies crop up. The presence of voluntary personnel and of healthcare figures is important to assure the continuity of the operating theatre and to contribute to the constant formation of the personnel which is highly treasured by the directress Sr. Maria Grazia.
Unfortunately, the increase in the offering is opposed to the poor income of the population. Especially in certain seasons, when the fields cannot be cultivated, the individuals fail to pay the necessary moderate amounts which are essential for the running of the hospital. Unfortunately every citizen is entirely responsible for the medical care because the state doesn’t contribute at all.
During my stay in Ngaoundal, in accordance with the sisters, we organised a week of gratuitous Obstetric-Gynaecological consultation on the occasion of the youths’ feast, and another week for the woman’s feast when they were obliged to pay only half the fee for the consultation.
Across these gratuitous consultations, we carried out around 400 visits during the week, and we diagnosed that almost 20% of the women were suffering from diseases that needed urgent surgical interventions to avoid further serious complications.
But we then reflected on the fact that none of the patients came back for surgery when they knew about the cost of the operation, because they didn’t have the means to pay the expenses.
During the second week, since the consultation was against payment, (but which was reduced), only 35 women turned up.
During my stay in Ngaoundal we operated all the patients who needed an urgent surgical intervention (intestinal perforation, extra-uterine pregnancy, danger of uterus damage, delivery problems, inguinal hernias, intestinal obstruction). In these cases we proceeded with surgery to save the patient’s life … although it was unsolvable. The sisters drew money for them (…and they continue to do so) from a capital established by voluntary donations. Unfortunately these cases are numerous… How can one tackle them all? And then, how can one uphold all the expenses for the running of the hospital?
I wanted to point out these miserable situations which I have witnessed together with the sisters, so that everyone might reflect… Perhaps, with our small means, we all can do something to invent initiatives and to involve relatives and friends. With the commitment of many, even though a little, together we can contribute to save human lives.
Having already lived this experience twice by which I have been deeply touched, I hope to re-live it once more. And if other colleagues wish, for a short time to offer their profession at the service of those who need it, may they know that they are most welcome in Ngaoundal. It will be a strong and beautiful experience for them besides being a precious help for this hospital which began to operate gradually only since 4th April 2016.
I address my plea also and especially to the groups and the associations who with their help, have contributed to the realisation of the hospital, in order not to abandon it in this first delicate phase, but to continue to accompany it and to support it.
I assure you that it is very painful to see persons who need urgent treatment, but who fail to come to the hospital only because they lack the means, and when they arrive, their conditions are desperate… It’s the daily suffering that the sisters experience to keep going with their mission at the service of life and of the poor.
Thanks to those who would like to welcome my plea !…
All of us can do something and …
TOGETHER we can do a lot
to foster the ASSETS of SOLIDARITY of the hospital
and to save many human lives.
Dr. Giuseppe Puglia
