By mohamedj.bah@awokonewspaper.sl
SIERRA LEONE, Freetown – The 34 Military Hospital in Freetown has been supported with 12 oxygen concentrators and 12 oximeters by Aid Pioneers e.V. in partnership with “Apotheker Helfen e.V. from Germany.
Oxygen concentrators are used to supply about 95% pure oxygen to people suffering from any condition that causes the oxygen levels to drop too low.
The devices are crucial for the treatment of COVID-19 patients and are often used after operations to ensure a steady supply of concentrated oxygen to the patients.
However, there were only a few oxygen concentrators available in Sierra Leone, as the “Aid Pioneers e.V.” team members learned during their visit to Freetown in February to gain a better understanding of the Sierra Leonean healthcare system.
According to Ibrahim Mansaray, the Head Pharmacist of the 34 Military Hospital, although oxygen concentrators were the most urgently needed equipment, the hospital was unable to fund their procurement.
In that light, Aid Pioneers e.V. therefore identified the supply of oxygen concentrators as the most effective way to help the 34 Military Hospital to treat more patients and thereby improve Sierra Leonean’s access to healthcare.
With the support of “Apotheker Helfen e.V.”, who provided 10.000 EUR of the 11.500 EUR that was needed to buy the oxygen concentrators, the “34 Military Hospital” is finally equipped with the vital medical devices.
“These are life-saving devices, critical to helping patients heal after surgery and treating respiratory illnesses of all kinds. There are only a handful of ventilators in Sierra Leone, and even fewer oxygen concentrators – making the need acute. This delivery also coincided with the opening of a 100-bed pediatric unit at “34 Military Hospital”, equipping their new wing with the equipment necessary to treat children” said Michael Pusic, Aid Pioneers e.V. team member and former Senior Advisor to the Mayor of Freetown.
Also during a visit to Freetown, in February this year, four Aid Pioneers e.V. team members from Germany got the chance to visit the hospital themselves, talk to the doctors, pharmacists and nurses and learn about the great work they do every day. “Aid Pioneers e.V. got a tour of the whole hospital and visited the wards that are about to open this year to treat many new patients.
Aid Pioneers e.V. is currently planning a shipment of important medical goods to Sierra Leone for the end of this year to further support the “34 Military Hospital” and many other hospital.
Aid Pioneers e.V. is a German-based non-profit organization founded by students in August 2020 during the explosion in Beirut. “Aid Pioneers” aim is to find the most effective NGOs and institutions in the Middle East and Africa and help them impact even more people. This can be done either by organizing logistics and procurement for our partners, by raising funds for them in Europe, or by consulting them on how to operate more efficiently. MJB/20/7/2022
