Yaounde Emergency Centre (CURY) was established with the first mission of saving lives. Barely five months after the hospital opened its doors to patients, the institution already faces financial deficits resulting from unpaid bills by the underprivileged people of the society. It is within this backdrop that the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), in partnership with the United States Embassy in Cameroon and the Ministry of Public Health last Thursday, December 3, 2015 in Yaounde organised an event dubbed CURY Charity Event.

Through cash donation on or after the event day, cheques, pledges and commitments, donors are called to donate at the donation desk or through designated CURY account at the Societe General Cameroun (SGC) bank. According to the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Cameroon, Lim Jae Hoon, the event was aimed at creating public awareness on the actions of CURY while establishing partnerships with donor organisations and corporate bodies through their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) schemes.

H.E Lim Jae Hoon said KOICA was out at achieving a long-term approach towards curbing the deficit incurred by CURY as a result of the inability of some patients to pay for their treatment. The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea said CURY is operating on the “treatment first and payment later policy.” Thanks to this policy, the centre has registered more than 3,000 patients since July 2015 with 8-10 per cent of patients not able to pay their bills after treatment.

The Deputy Resident Representative of KOICA, Noh Dae Young said one of the challenges of CURY is the recovery of debts from patients treated and this has led to a deficit of FCFA 18 million between the months of July and September, 2015. Noh Young said the charity event will raise funds to reduce financial debts resulting from unpaid bills by underprivileged patients. 

Speaking during the event, the Minister of Public Health, André Mama Fouda said it was an unusual event organised by an embassy for the first time in the country for the benefit of a hospital. While lauding the initiative of KOICA, Minister André Mama Fouda said it was a concrete vision of the cooperation between Cameroon and the Republic of Korea. Last Thursday’s event gathered dignitaries from the French and the American Embassies in Cameroon as well as other rich personalities in the country.