The eight dialysis machines were accompanied by other items Mankah Ndefru
Eight brand new haemodialysis machines have been received at the Bamenda Regional Hospital days after kidney patients protested the breakdown of all eight haemodialysis machines in the region’s lone Haemodialysis Centre.
Dr. Kingsley Che Soh, North West Regional Delegate of Public Health, and Dr. Nsame Denis, Director of the Bamenda Regional Hospital received the dialysis machines and assorted accessories Wednesday, January 6, 2021.
The items that will henceforth serve the dialysis needs of the 55 kidney patients being catered for at the Bamenda Haemodialysis Center include eight new dialysis machines, eight beds, a good consignment of concentrated acids, and 800 10-liter containers of saline water.
On January 3, the Director of the Bamenda Regional Hospital in a Radio Announcement to the public and dialysis patients said, “Due to unforeseen acute breakdown of the machines in the Dialysis Center, the Haemodialysis Center has been temporarily closed and patients transferred to other General and Regional Hospitals of the country pending a lasting solution to the machines of the Center. ”
On the same day, the North West Regional Delegate of Public Health, Dr. Kingsley Che Soh issued a contrary press statement in which he announced, “The population of the North West Region is hereby informed that contrary to the Radio Announcement issued by the Director of the Regional Hospital, this morning, the Haemodialysis Center of the Regional Hospital has not been closed. ”
The Delegate went on to state that, the haemodialysis machines which are over eight years old are rather “progressively being replaced by HE the Minister for Public Health, and the new machines shall go operational in the days ahead.”
On the patients, the Delegate said, “While some patients have voluntarily moved to seek care in some other Haemodialysis Centers in the country during this short period, we are calling on others to exercise a bit of patience, as they shall be informed as soon as the new machines are installed. ” He said in a press statement.
On January 4, 2021, Dr. Manaouda Malachie, Cameroon's Minister of Public Health took to Twitter to support his regional delegate.
His words: “The Bamenda Haemodialysis Center is not closed at all. It will receive 08 new generators [dialysis machines] tomorrow morning and tests will be carried out immediately for a better service. It should be recalled that the instructions of the Head of State on the renovation of these centers are clear. ”
One of the eight new dialysis machines (c) Ndi Tsembom
The kits however arrived over 36 hours later than the minister had previewed, a delay which forced kidney patients to stage a protest on Tuesday. The Regional Delegate of Public Health, Dr. Che Soh has called on patients who had gone to seek treatment elsewhere to return to Bamenda and continue.
"For those who went out of the region, they should come back. The installation of the equipment will be done immediately. So they should come back and continue their sessions at the same rate," said Dr. Che Soh.
Dialysis patients are expected to have two days a week at the center. They are also expected to spend four hours per session. Their routine sessions were ruined by the breakdown of the dialysis machines.
"I want to thank the Director for being our whistle-blower. These materials will go a long way to assist us to get our regular dialysis. We also want to thank the Minister of health for his prompt response," said Prince Francis Mbinglo, a retired Divisional Officer who is the leader of the 55 patients being attended to at the Bamenda Haemodialysis Center.
The patients are expected to pay FCFA 5,000 per session. Dr. Che Soh estimates that the reagents received Wednesday will last for nine months.
Bamenda now has 8 new dialysis machines (c) Amateur
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