In Cameroon, access to medical care, especially for the underprivileged, remains a significant challenge. It is within this context that ASAF Cameroon, in collaboration with the R.E.S.T.O.R.E Worldwide Foundation, organized a reconstructive surgery mission at the Yaoundé Military Hospital, once again demonstrating its unwavering commitment to assisting the most vulnerable.
In May 2023, a team of specialist doctors from various backgrounds came together to provide care to over 300 patients suffering from various deformities. This project, which continues the humanitarian efforts led by ASAF (a foundation established by businessman Eran Moas), aims to address a pressing public health issue that affects thousands of Cameroonians.
From the outset of the campaign, the Yaoundé Military Hospital saw a significant influx of patients, all carrying hope for a better life. Among them was a woman suffering from a painful growth who turned to Dr. Dembélé, a plastic surgeon from Mali who had traveled specifically for this mission. “It hurts…” she lamented, to which the doctor confidently replied, “We can operate…” These simple words undoubtedly brought immense relief to someone for whom surgical care would otherwise have been impossible to obtain.
The operations commenced swiftly, initially conducted by local surgeons while awaiting the arrival of their international colleagues from seven countries, including the United States, France, and Ghana. This collaboration between Cameroonian and foreign practitioners is a powerful symbol of international solidarity in healthcare.
Lucien, the guardian of a child who underwent surgery to remove a benign tumor, shared his experience: “After the examinations, the doctors detected a type of lipoma, and there was also poor healing that caused a keloid. Everything went well; the child is now healthy.” These vital interventions, which significantly improve the quality of life for many patients, underscore the importance of the missions supported by ASAF and R.E.S.T.O.R.E.
The numbers speak volumes: out of the ****0 patients recorded last year, 300 will receive surgical interventions during this week. But ASAF’s commitment doesn’t end there. As Dr. Achta Amadou, a representative for the R.E.S.T.O.R.E and ASAF NGOs, explained, “We will continue to care for all the people who have been identified, all the patients we receive, from the registration of pre-operative assessments to surgery and post-operative evaluations… everything is covered by the R.E.S.T.O.R.E Foundation and ASAF.”
ASAF has thus established itself as an essential player in healthcare in Cameroon, particularly for those without resources who are often unable to afford treatment in private clinics where costs are prohibitive. Through these ongoing and long-term efforts, the organization helps restore hope to thousands of Cameroonians, providing them not only with medical care but also with a chance to live with dignity.
While public health challenges in Cameroon remain vast, ASAF’s actions, supported by its international partners, represent a beacon of hope and a model for other stakeholders in the sector. This mobilization reflects an unwavering determination to make a difference, today and in the future, for those who need it most.