Provide Emergency Support for Vulnerable Persons.

Alice is the primary provider for her family. A widow and internally displaced person (IDP) from Kumba, she currently resides in Buea with her two children and seven adopted children. Alice serves as the Head Teacher at the Presbyterian School in Buea Town.

  On Thursday, June 13, 2024, Reach Out Cameroon NGO received an appeal from Alice seeking assistance for her son, Junior, who has been ill for two years. Lizette, a social worker from the economic security department, was assigned to visit her at the hospital and present a written report. The objective of this activity was to examine Junior’s actual health condition and verify the patient's vulnerability. Alice, whose son is a 28-year-old graduate of the University of Buea, has been surviving on donations from strangers, family, and friends. She is now appealing to Reach Out Cameroon NGO for financial assistance to continue providing the necessary oxygen for her son.

Findings from the Hospital Visit Junior has severe lung problems that require surgery, which can only be performed in the United States or the United Kingdom. Unfortunately, Alice lacks the funds for such a procedure. Over the last eight months, Alice has taken Junior to the hospital eight times, each visit lasting at least a week. For the past eight months, Junior's survival has depended on continuous oxygen support. The family has incurred a lot of daily expenses for the past eight months this oxygen is essential for Junior's nourishment and survival, and he cannot be without it even for a moment. In a month when his condition is stable, the family spends about 250,000 XAF ($415.31) for oxygen, but when his situation worsens, they take him to the hospital, incurring expenses of around 700,000 XAF ($1162.87).

 Action Taken by Reach Out NGO Reach Out staff conducted a home visit in July and supported the family with 150,000 XAF ($ 249.19) for the refill of oxygen, which the family promised to use for a week. The family was very grateful to have received support from Reach Out NGO. As of now, Junior is still on oxygen. He uses it at home, and the family only takes him to the hospital when the crisis is critical, requesting an ambulance for transportation from the regional hospital in Buea southwest Region of Cameroon.

Recommendations

The family still needs more funds for the continuous purchase of oxygen