Impactful Interventions: Fifty 50 Club Commended for Kidney Patient Support
An Obuasi based non-profit association has been lauded for their human-centered donations.
Founded in July 2020, the Fifty 50 Club has made several donations over the past 4-and-a-half years including contributing to the cost of surgeries and/or medical treatments for kids and other individuals with various heart/medical conditions, supporting community clinics with medical equipment and supplies, providing scholarships to brilliant but needy students, and setting up businesses for many artisans among others.
The club in their 14th donation gave a lifeline to a 26-year old Kidney patient, Emmanuel Mensah as part of their health interventions.
They donated GHS 10,000 to add to a GoFundMe campaign to aid in the definitive management of his renal condition. The club also provided GHS 4,500 to a 9-year old Sarah Gyasi to enable her procure a prosthetic leg.
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According to Dr. Kwadwo Anim of the AngloGold Ashanti Health Foundation, who is a member of the Club, renal problem has been one of the leading causes of death in the country. Statistics show that nearly 14 per cent of the over 30 million Ghanaians are suffering from chronic kidney disease. This equates to more than 4.3 million, of which researchers suggest that between 15,000 and 19,500 should be on dialysis.
However, treatment is not cheap as patients require between GH₵400 and GH₵1000 for three dialysis sessions a week. The cost of dialysis is a fraction of the bills, excluding regular medication and other health services.
Dr. Anim whiles commending the Fifty Club for their support called for collaborative efforts in making sure the cost of treating kidney diseases is affordable to all. He also advised the public to maintain healthy lifestyles to avoid developing kidney disease.
The Fifty 50 club also supported the Kyekyewere-Dadwene community health center with some medical equipment and supplies worth GHS 34,810. The items included, 1 Delivery Bed, 1 Dressing Bed, 1 Drip Stand, 1 Nebulizing Machine, 1 Oxygen Cylinder with Flowmeter, 2 BP Apparatus, 2 Forceps, 2 Weighing Scales, 2 Thermometers, among others.
Receiving the items, the Adansi North District Health Director Eric Atuahene Agyeman lauded the club for coming to their aid as such crucial time where the facility is challenged with absence of some basic medical equipment.
He said the health facility has always been overwhelmed with OPD attendance due to the ever growing population. He called on other NGOs to support the facility.
The Club also donated various tools/equipment (totaling GHS 9,350) to 5 artisans in and around the Obuasi community.
Three (3) dryers, 3 hand dryers and 3 washing basins were given to 3 Hairdressers whiles 2 sewing machines and 2 pressing irons to 2 Seamstresses.
The donation is expected to equip the artisans to set up their own businesses and provide them with a steady stream of income.
A member of the club Eric Broni said the club believes in human capital development hence decided to consistently support artisans who have fully completed their apprenticeship by setting them up with tools and equipment.
On the rationale behind the donations, the President and Founder of the Club, Jacob Edmund-Acquah said they were motivated by the objective of the group to impact lives together.
He said they identify some key challenges in the society and contribute to resolve them.
The total cost of the donations at the event was GHS 61,000. Mr. Edmund-Acquah thanked members of the group for their generosity and continued support. He also called on individuals and corporate institutions to consider joining the club and/or making donations to support the Club’s activities.
