Hi, my name is Jack Robinson and I am finishing my first year at Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine. Since placing my faith in Christ and knowing the self sacrificial love He has for us, I have realized the importance in serving Him and His creation. The phrase “We love because He first loved us” has taken on a new meaning as I have been encouraged to see the impact Christ’s love has had on many around me. Christ provided a reason for me to live through the love He shows me, and I desire to spread this same love to those who might feel abandoned due to their circumstances. After learning more about the people of Yaoundé, Cameroon and the dire state of their healthcare system, I resolved to support these individuals who have oftentimes live with chronic, debilitating, and untreated medical conditions. 

Despite training around 1,000 doctors every year, Cameroon experiences the loss of 75% of these medical professionals per year as they leave the country. This has lead to the doctor to patient ratio in Cameroon to fall from 1 in 5,250 in 2004 to 1 in 7,700 in 2022 according to the World Health Organization. When contrasted to America’s 1 in 270 doctor to patient ratio, the importance of the work done by doctors like Dr. Georges Bwelle’s becomes apparent. In order to aid these people, myself and another CCOM classmate have decided to ask for donations and immerse ourselves into their healthcare system aiding Dr. Georges Bwelle, the chief of general surgery at Yaoundé Central Hospital and the founder of a nonprofit healthcare organization called ASCOVIME, in a 10 day trip beginning May 24th to west Africa.

In Cameroon, I will be working with ASCOVIME to provide medical care for impoverished individuals at NO CHARGE. Traveling in a bus supplied with surgical equipment, life-saving pharmaceuticals, and a high-powered generator with surgeons, nurses, medical students, and other volunteers, I will join this mobile medical team to reach remote regions across Cameroon. Every 2 days, this team consults over 500 patients some of whom wait 2-3 days and travel 25-30 miles for the free care offered by the ASCOVIME team. 

Over the course of 20 years, ASCOVIME has worked to serve these people by

visiting over 250 villages

providing free medical care to over 55,000 people

operating on over 3,500 people

delivering more than 8,966 babies

performing over 8,664 ophthalmology consultations

distributing more than 4,463 glasses

performing over 4,389 dental consultations

performing more than 4,305 dental extractions and cleanings

distributing school supplies to more than 34,832 children and 1,337 teachers

and so much more!

I am asking for help to raise money for this nonprofit volunteer-based medical team and for aid in raising money for my flight so I can participate in this work for the people of Yaoundé. 100% of the money that ASCOVIME receives is used on medical supplies needed to continue to serve these individuals without the means to pay for medical support. Additionally, if you would like to donate supplies, I have a list of ASCOVIME’s requested items below. Finally, please pray with me for these individuals that they may be restored to health and encounter Christ in their personal lives. 

I am very thankful for all the support I have around me and I believe that these patients will be greatly impacted through your help. There is much work to be done in this part of the world, but with your help, the lives of many can be drastically changed. If you have any questions about the trip, ASCOVIME, the patients in Yaoundé, or anything else please reach out and I’ll be happy to answer!

2018 YEARLY REPORT ASCOVIME

https://issuu.com/ascovime/docs/yearly_2018_bon

Informational video about ASCOVIME

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvQLZWEFPAo

Supplies List:

Medical​ ​supplies

Stethoscope,​ ​blood​ ​pressure​ ​meter,​ ​exam​ ​gloves,​ ​glucometer,​ ​thermometer

Suture/stitches​ ​(vicryl​ ​4-0;​ ​3-0;​ ​2-0;​ ​0;​ ​1;​ ​2;​ ​Surgipro;​ ​non​ ​absorbable;​ ​prolene;​ ​absorbable)

Gauze

Sterile​ ​gloves​ ​(​ 6.5;​ ​7;​ ​7.5;​ ​8​ )

Scalpel​ ​blades

Antiseptics(​ ​isobetadine,​ ​cytéal,​ ​alcohol)

Forceps​ ​(with​ ​and​ ​without​ ​teeth,​ ​Debakey,​ ​gallstone)

Clamps​ ​(stone,gastro​ ​intestinal,​ ​rubber​ ​shod​ ​,allis,​ ​allen,​ ​babcock,​ ​De​ ​Matel,​ ​haemostatic​ ​like​ ​Halstead and​ ​adson,​ ​Kelly,​ ​kocher,​ ​right​ ​angle​ ​for​ ​the​ ​rectum,​ ​satinsky)

Mesh/​ ​cone​ ​lichtenstein​ ​(for​ ​hernias)

Cauterizer

Anoscope

Sclerosing​ ​solution​ ​for​ ​hemorroïd

Rubber-banding​​for​​treatment​​of​​hemorroïd

Drain​ ​(closed-suction,​ ​Jackson-Pratt,​ ​Hemovac)

Catheters

Needle-driver

Retractors​ ​(Gelpi,​ ​Balfour,​ ​Hill-fergusson)

Sponge-holder

Scissors​ ​(metzembaum,​ ​mayo,​ ​Potts)

Sterile​ ​metal​ ​boxes​ ​for​ ​instruments

Medications​​ ​-​ ​​CANNOT​ ​TAKE​ ​EXPIRED​ ​MEDICATIONS!!!

Antibiotics​ ​(amoxicillin,​ ​erythromycin,​ ​doxyciclin,​ ​cloxacilline,​ ​ceftriaxone,​ ​metronidazol,​ ​cotrimoxazol, cefuroxime,​ ​cefadroxil,​ ​ciprofloxacin,​ ​ofloxacin,​ ​gentamicin,​ ​nystatin)

Anti-inflammatory​ ​(ibuprofen,​ ​indomethacin,​ ​diclofenaco,​ ​ketoprofen,​ ​celecoxib,​ ​dexaméthasone)

Pain​ ​killers​ ​(acetaminophen,​ ​paracetamol,​ ​tramadol,​ ​bupémorphine,​ ​morphine)

Vitamins

Antihistamines

Intestinal​ ​transit​ ​(phloroglucinol,​ ​omeprazole,​ ​ranitidine,​ ​albendazol)

Anaesthetics​​ ​​(locals​ ​like​ ​xylocaïne,​ ​loco-regional​ ​and​ ​general)

Anti-HTA​ ​and​ ​anti-diabetic​ ​drugs

Ringer​ ​lactate/normal​ ​saline/glucose​ ​5​ ​and​ ​10%/geloplasma/proteins​ ​and​ ​lipids​ ​for​ ​parenteral​ ​use

School​ ​supplies

Bibles in French or English 

Blank​ ​Workbooks/Exercise​ ​Books

Chalk

Pencils,​ ​Pens,​ ​Erasers

Rulers

Backpacks

Electric​ ​Torch​ ​or​ ​Oil​ ​Lamp

Any​ ​Teaching​ ​Materials