Naigahelp

The Naigahelp - Organisation for African Assistance ( spoken nai - ja -help ) is a medical humanitarian organization that is primarily involved in West Africa in the construction of basic care. Founded by medical students, they quickly developed into an important source of supply for the Southwest region around the town of Buea in Cameroon, where some hospitals are directly dependent on the Naigahelp - aid supplies.

• 2.1 Structure
• 2.2 locations
• 2.3 Voluntary Service

Genesis

Prehistory

The organization emerged from a loose confederation of pupils and students, who wanted to promote the elimination of abuses in developing countries. Through small donations campaigns and awareness-raising events for other charities should be advertised for projects such as child sponsorship and the treatment of noma.

Foundation

During a stay as an assistant in a Cameroonian hospital, the later founder of Naigahelp experienced the key event, which she - has moved to the club was founded - according to their own information. A girl from a village near Buea had come out with an injury in the hospital, originally just to buy a dressing. Due to the poor hygienic conditions, the infected wound, however. At that time it was common practice in the hospitals, every day a so-called " Wound dressing" to carry out, under which the entire wound is washed with the disinfectant Betadine and cleaned with towels. However, in practice this can take place only restricted the normal wound healing processes, as the wound is open every day. The young patient became ill as a result of this incorrect treatment of sepsis; in the course of abscesses spread inter alia on the left foot, which then should be amputated. Although the treatment for some time had been questioned by the young wizard, only a conscript from Yaoundé chief doctor brought the final twist: Targeted cleaning all abscesses with disinfected water (used in Europe drainage) and the gift of strong antibiotics could just rescued the girl be.

Against this background, the future founders decided to establish its own supply network, which not only supply materials to Africa, but also should provide the local doctors and nurses the opportunity for further training. Intention was there in the first place, fatal errors - as in the case described - to prevent in the future. The name Naigahelp was inspired by the popular nickname in Nigeria Naija.

When building the founders relied mostly on local doctors; Mid-2011 began the coordinated partnership between the organization and various hospitals and health centers. Since deliveries are carried out with medical equipment such as ultrasound machines, but also awareness campaigns on common diseases such as HIV / AIDS on a regular basis. As previously in many villages a kind of " laissez -faire " view had prevailed with respect to the problems in the health system, the sudden attention brought a clear impulse to improve the situation.

Organization

Structure

As an association Naigahelp is decentralized. The board, which has its headquarters in Freiburg im Breisgau, coordinates the dispatch of relief supplies to the individual application projects. In Cameroon, even the materials of local employees will be met in order to distribute them according to the specifications. An important principle is the continuous coordination of projects to current needs of the population. So lists are regularly made ​​, what materials and medicines are needed to send it to us with the next delivery. Thus, a constant supply of the partner institutions is ensured. The funds are provided primarily through private donors, which are made ​​by advertising campaigns (eg, by responding to the road) to the projects carefully.

Locations

Main application area is the South West Region in Cameroon, where some hospitals and health centers are supported by Naigahelp. This area is one within Cameroon to the more developed, so already an adequate road network and the power supply is largely assured. The poorly developed health sector is thus the biggest obstacle of the population to a more comfortable life. Traffic accidents are common and usually more severe than in Germany, because no emergency care is available. The hospitals, which Naigahelp works, distribute the donated medicines free of charge to the patients. It is also the cost of treatment and the traveling expenses are covered at consigned emergency patients.

In Nigeria Naigahelp working with a clinic in Gembu in Taraba State. Here the renewal of the operating room is planned. In addition, the organization participated in nationwide educational missions intended to arouse interest for medical and scientific activities in adolescents. In the context of education and Choachingseminaren Naigahelp staff regularly visit schools, inter alia, in the states of Niger, Taraba, Adamawa and Kaduna.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo an outpatient children's emergency service is to be established; due to the tense security situation there, this project will, however, pursued cautious at the moment.

Voluntary Service

For some time Naigahelp also offers the opportunity to work on projects as a volunteer ( eg as part of a voluntary social year ). The organization also cooperates with non- primary medical facilities such as children's homes or projects in the field of nature conservation. It is, inter alia, advertises that were particularly low ( partly under 800 euros ) by the direct placement of the costs incurred. This is actually very cheap in comparison, however, should be considered when opting for such a service ( if it is to last a whole year) and the weltwärts program of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development to be considered, which is fully sponsored.

Current missions

In January 2012, a greater supply of surgical equipment and medical diagnostic equipment to the St. Joan of Arc Higher Institute of Medical Sciences was donated in Buea. Associated with this has carried out the largest ever scale campaign to educate the population about worm infestations Naigahelp.

Beginning of 2013 has organized in collaboration with the " Centre for the Gifted in Science" an educational mission in Nigeria Naigahelp, at the seminars were held in schools. The students were informed about possibilities - despite often difficult circumstances - to deal with their own ideas and interests.

The partner hospital St. Joan Polyclinic in Buea was strongly supported the process of finalizing an additional floor in the new planned supply complex. In it, up to 50 patients will be accommodated, which may also consult regularly with German experts. With regard to the series of attacks in Nigeria on December 25, 2011 and the subsequent unrest in the country and the contact with the local government in Anambra has been reinforced to provide for a possible over flames of conflict on the state of emergency as quickly as possible can.