Remarkable humanitarian GLORES Director Alfred Wingo (Obituary)

Alfred was a remarkable man who has improved the life chances of thousands of children born with disabilities by adopting physiotherapy techniques and combating the misinformed beliefs and associated stigmas.

It is with enormous sadness that we report the loss of our main contact in Bafoussam, Cameroon. After meeting Alfred in 2008 we established assistance for GLORES (Global Rehabilitation Services) a unique service provided for the most vulnerable in society. Modelled on United Kingdom National Health Service treatment should be free at the point of access and based on need. We first encountered Alfred in rented accommodation making do with minimal equipment to transform the life chances of disabled children in Cameroon. These were the rudimentary conditions we first witnessed.

The need for immediate support was self evident and through a sustained programme of support the FIOH fund financed the development of a new bespoke treatment facility , unique to Cameroon. The construction infrastructure was finally completed in 2016.

Alfred was instrumental in developing this idea from it’s planning to inception and continued to serve the disabled children of Cameroon until his untimely Death in Nov 2024. We express our condolences to his family and pay tribute to a remarkable humanitarian. FIOH remain honoured to have been a vital part of his story.

GLORES Global Rehabilitation Services Bafoussam, Cameroon

Building work

Completed building GLORES Rehabilitation Centre

Since 2004 the FIOH Fund has been supporting the work of GLORES treating severely disabled children and in 2016, helped build a new treatment and rehabilitation centre near
Bafoussam in the Western Region of Cameroon. In 2017, GLORES moved from its rented building into the new centre to continue treating children with disabilities. 

Project updates can be read here:

GLORES update –  September 2021
GLORES Update – September 2019

To see the difference this project is making, please read the testimonies of six children who have all been successfully treated at the centre and beyond through outreach

Mike Thomas our founder at the clinic in 2009

GLORES – PEOPLE TREATED BETWEEN JULY 2021 AND APRIL 2022

The schedule below shows details of the treatment of disabled people (mainly children) between July 2021 and April 2022 including the children that were still following treatment when the report of July 2021 was sent and what happened to them since then.  The children that were admitted for treatment after the report of July 2021 to date are also shown.

With the slow-down  of Covid-19 infections and the arrival of the new vehicle, the number of children coming for treatment has steadily increased. The vehicle donated by Survive Miva shown permitted us to reach distant villages that we have been unable to visit due to bad roads. In those villages we meet hundreds of children needing our services, unfortunately we will not be able to cope with all those children because of the limited resources we have. The assistance we received from FIOH has been significantly reduced due to the economic recession following the Covid-19 epidemic.  We, however, managed the amount sent diligently to cover quite a number of children, especially those from very poor families that could not afford to contribute the required symbolic payment to help buy materials for their treatment.

The adults who sought help from GLORES for the treatment of arthritis, lumbago, sciatic nerve injury and other pathologies that need physiotherapy helped a great deal to bring income for the treatment of the poorer children.

The increase in the number of children and adults for treatment kept us very  busy.  One other problem we have is the need for a Secretary who could have helped us in compiling timely reports.

We are presently trying to raise some money in preparation of the visit of the Paramount Chief of Bafoussam to meet the handicapped children and to see the work of GLORES in his area of jurisdiction. We will need to invite the children treated in GLORES, the Regional Delegate of Social Affairs for the West, the Media and other personalities. We hope to use the occasion for publicity and to raise funds too.

GLORES SCHEDULE FROM JULY 2021 TO APRIL2022(

 

Global Rehabilitation Services Report Sept 2021

BRIEF REPORT OF ACTIVITIES FROM APRIL 2021 TO JULY 2021

July 23, 2021

Listed below are the children that have been treated and those that are still following treatment. The first chart shows the children that were in the last report of March 2021 that had not completed their treatment and the outcome of their treatment. The second chart shows those children that have been admitted after the report of March 2021 till July 2021. The outcome of the treatment was largely successful except a few that stopped treatment and those that needed long term treatment.

The number of children that have come for treatment greatly improved with the reduction of the Covid-19 epidemic. The Centre received 125 children during 2021 but 68 children actually came back for treatment. We are still waiting for more of the 67 children that did not come since the long school holidays break has not yet ended. We believe that the children that have not come for treatment after evaluation is due to the financial hardship resulting from the Covid-19 in Cameroon. Parents are finding it hard to provide their symbolic contributions and to pay for transport. However the availability of the new vehicle from Miva has helped a great deal to fetch some of the children in villages but it is difficult to do that in all the villages.

With the new vehicle donated by MIVA, we are now able to reach many villages for the CBR (Community-based rehabilitation) programme on a monthly basis. We hope to organize groups of concerned individuals and the parents of the affected children in  many villages. This will give us the opportunity to meet many disabled children and bring them for treatments although bringing many children for treatment will be difficult due to financial problems of the parents and GLORES.

WE must thank FIOH for the provision of £1 600 that helped quite a good number of children. The contribution of the adult patients who have to pay for their treatment is also helping us financially.

As you might have noted, most of the adult patients we saw have one common problem, sciatic nerve compression and low back pain. The thing is that GLORES is gaining a reputation in the treatment of sciatic nerve complications so much so that many patients with that problem are being referred to GLORES. We have successfully helped patients with this complication to avoid expensive surgery. The majority of patients with this complication are women due to farming and carrying of heavy loads of farm products.

CHILDREN WHO CONTINUED TREATMENT AFTER THE REPORT OF MARCH 2021

Name		Age	Sex	Diagnosis	Address	Treatment	Outcome
3	Meke Christna	1 ms	F	Bilateral club feet	Sacta	Plastering plus special shoes	Discharged with follow-up
4	Taboue Bassime	2 y	F	Bilateral varus knees	Tchichap	Stretching and splints	Calipers discontinued and dischared
5	Djeleseck Lewis	4 y	M	Left herb palsy	Dschang	Functional reeducation	Affected arm functional, discharged
6	Mfor Blessing	10 ms	F	Bilateral varus knees	Djeleng 2	Stretching and splints	Splints discontinued with follow-up
7	Dongfack Tsamo	7 y	F	Retarded development	Yaounde	Functional reeducation	Parents stopped treatment although there was improvement
8	Mafeugoum Doriane	18 y	F	Prenatal deformaton of right leg	Bafoussam	Mobility splint	Can walk successfully but still comes for splits repairs.
9	Tadjuidje Henri	3 y	M	Retarded development	Bamenze	Functional reeducation	Still coming for treatment (Long term treatment)
10	Kengue Oumbe Valyros	3 y	M	Bilateral valgus knees	Baleng	Stretching and splints	Splints discontinued and dischared
11	Sapo Eurich	4 y	M	Bilateral valgus knees	Baleng	Stretching and splints	Splints removed with follow-up
12	Kamche Lliaken	11 ms	M	Bilateral valgus knees	Bamenze	Stretching and splinting	Discharged
13	Feupossi Tenny	2.5 y	M	Bilatral valgus knees	Djassa	Stretching and splinting	Splints discontinued and dischared
14	Takeo		F	Congenital deformation of lower limbs	Baham	Muscle strengthening exercises and  ambulation splints	Can walk with help of splints, going to school and follow-up repairs.
15	Kuate Tresor	4 y	M	Spastic Cerebral palsy	Bamenze	Functional reeducation	Still under treatment (long term treatment)
16	Moujaita Nabia	9 y	F	Quadruplegy due to attack of meningitis	Banengo	Functional reeducation followed by splinting	Resumed treatment after parents stopped bringing the child.
17	Bayang Marie Chantal	10 y	F	Lower limb contracture and spasticity		Correction of Achile tendons and, coordination exercises	Can work independently but still comes for control.
18	Randy		M	Spastic cerebral palsy	Bamenda	Therapeutic exercises, replacement of splints due to growth.	Deformation of lower limbs corrected, spasticity amazingly reduced. Walks with assistance and following home treatment and coming for follow-up

 

CHILDREN ADMITTED FOR TREATMENT FROM APRIL 2021 TO JULY 2021

NAMES		AGE	SEX	DIAGNOSIS	ADDRESS	TREATMENT	OUTCOME
1	Mandefo Marie	71 y	F	Inflammatory arthritis	Socada	Pain management	Her situation is unfortunately chronic and will need  PT (bone degeneration)
2	Janette Yoghae	50 y	F	Sciatic nerve injury	Eveché	Lumber traction,  therapeutic exercises	Neurosurgery recommended although she is feels no serious pains
3	Nopoupoji marie	60 y	F	Frozen shoulder	Bamedze	Pain management, therapeutic exercises	Full recovery
4	Magne Deodone	60 y		Fraction contracture left knee following an accident	Njingah	Stretching, massage	Left knees straightened
5	Tene Pelagie	38 y	F	Sciatic nerve Compression	Kamkouop	Lumber traction,  therapeutic exercises	Recovered
6	Moujiata Nabia	9 y		Paraplegia following meningitis	Banengo	Therapeutic exercises, splinting	Can walk using splints and coming for follow-up treatment
7	Sr.  Margrette Madjou	54 y	F	Sciatic nerve compression	Bamendju	Lumber traction,  therapeutic exercises	Discharged satisfaction
8	Echia Mercy	61 y	F	Sciatic nerve compression	Banengo	Lumber traction,  therapeutic exercises	Fully recovered
9	Salamatou Ndikea	35 y	F	Neglected sub luxation of left hip	Banego	Therapeutic exercises, shoe adaptation	Can walk straight with orthopaedic shoes
10	Kenge Abertine	55 y	F	Low back pain	Bamendju	Therapeutic exercises	Discharged  with satisfaction
11	Koagne Wembo	62	F	Sciatic nerve compression	Njinngah	Lumber traction,  therapeutic exercises	Discharged recovered
12	Mefoukah Therese	43 y	F	Sciatic nerve injury	Tounjie	Lumber traction,  therapeutic exercises	Discharged , full recovery
13	Sister Clementine	47 y	F	Sciatic nerve compression	Njounang	Lumber traction,  therapeutic exercises	She refused neurosurgery, came to GLORES and recovered fully since then she has recommended many patients to GLORES
14	Chinda Soh	18 y	M	Trauma contraction left knee	Tocket	Stretching, therapeutic exercises	Right knee brought to 90 degrees and functional
15	Zoukou Nouel	3 y	M	Bilateral  16tibia internal rotation	Maeture	Therapeutic exercises, splinting	Both knees corrected
	Kadji Veronique	47 y	F	Sciatic nerve compression	Magoua	Lumber traction,  therapeutic	Neurosurgery recommended but she refused
16	Ayanga Noubissi	49 y	M	Sciatic nerve compression	Socada	Lumber traction,  therapeutic	Discharged recovered
17	Kuetang Benadette	40 y	F	Left wrist fracture contracture	Quartier Haoussa	Therapeutic exercises, splinting	Contracture straightened but hand function still to recover
18	Mamma Zargaou	2 y	F	Bilateral Valgus knees	Bamendze	Stretching, splinting	Both knees straightened and discharged
19	Taa Ndifo	40 y	M	Sciatic nerve compression	Sacta	Lumber traction,  therapeutic	Referred for neurosurgery
20	Jidam Mohamed	5 y	M	Inflammation right leg following accident	Banefo	Pain management	Recovered fully
21	Tongho Gabriel	74 y	M	Sciaic nerve injury	Quartier Haoussa	Lumber traction,  therapeutic	Did not fully recovered and was referred for neurosurgery in Yaounde
24	Nganueu Myles	4 y	M	Bilateral valgus knees	Maeture	Stretching, splinting	Discharged with deformation fully corrected
25	Zoakeu Mechelini	45 y	F	Sciatic nerve compression	Njounang	Lumber traction,  therapeutic	Treated and discharged
26	Djoungouang Roselini	55 y	F	Sciatic nerve compression	Djeleng 3	Lumber traction,  therapeutic	Fully recovered
27	Barmi Delphine	45 y	F	Disc hernia	Njounang	Mild traction, therapeutic exercises, pain management	Recovered and  avoided neurological operation
28	Mabouo Regine	60 y	F	Sciatic nerve compression	Bamendze	Lumber traction,  therapeutic	Recovered and discharged
29	Tina Talep	3 y	F	Bilateral valgus knees	Tchichap	Stretching, splinting	Deformation fully corrected, splint discontinued
30	Kenge Yvama	13 y	F	Windswept deformity	Banengo	Stretching, splinting	Wearing splints and following the bi-weekly control visits
31	Nana Epse Tchounje	65 y	F	Sciatic nerve compression	Yaounde	Lumber traction,  therapeutic	Recovered after the recommended 2 week treatment
32	Kamar Joan	3 y	F	Bilateral valgus knees	Stade	Stretching, splinting	Wearing splints and coming for bi-weekly control
33	Mbeutsing Josephine	36 y	F	Discal hernia	Bamoungoum	Mild traction, therapeutic exercises, pain management	Recovered after 3 week treatment
34	Penha Celestine	46 y	F	Discal hernia	Kamkouop	Mild traction, 35therapeutic ex36ercises, pain man37agement	Recovered after 2 week treatment
35	Fotso Joan	9 y	M	Flexion contracture of knees	Bamendze		Undergoing preparation for splints
	Naghe Gaston	42 y	M	Trauma right ankle	TPO	Pain management	Undergoing PT
36	Djeussi  Benadette	33 y		Lumbargo	Bamendze	Therapeutic exercises	Good progress Still on treatment
37	Ayuk Ruth	52 y	F	Low back pain due to arthritis	Banengo	Therapeutic exercises	Still on therapy
38	Mafogie George	3 y	M	Windswept deformity	Douala	Stretching, splinting	Undergoing preparation for splints
39	Cecilia Tenkeu	68 y	F	Paralysis of right arm	Tamdja	Therapeutic exercises	Still on treatment
40	Mapah Esmila	3 y	F	Left club foot	Bamendze	Stretching then splinting	Undergoing PT then splinting
41	Tsabou Leonoura	7 m	F	Fracture right femur	Djeleng 1	Plaster immobilization (2 months)	To remove POP in 2 months.

 

 

Global Rehabilitation Services Report Sept 2019

REPORT SEPTEMBER 2019

 50 children came for treatment during the long summer holidays, including some who continued from the previous period especially those who need long term treatment. That is why some names are repeated in the two lists below. Of those who continued treatment, most of them successfully completed their treatment and went back to school normally to the satisfaction of their parents. Although the treatments are completed, we still give two to three months’ rendezvous to make sure the deformations do not restart, in which case we intervene to avoid waste of effort and money spent in the treatments.

The number of children coming indicates that the new Centre is being easily located since we moved. There were difficulties initially for some people to find the location.

EVENTS

GLORES was once more invited to the Bafoussam Annual Development Conference. This is an indication that GLORES is getting known for it’s development efforts in the area of social services in the Bafoussam community. The GLORES cultural group graced the occasion with traditional music to the satisfaction of everyone.

We purchased a lawn mower to reduce the expendure on hiring a gardener.

OTHER ISSUES

We noticed that water pressure in the pipes is low and a plumber advised us to raise the water reservoir a few metres up to solve the problem. Arrangements were made to do the work as the dry season starting in October. This is not a problem to get too concerned about but will make the use of water in the building more convenient.

We will organize an information meeting in GLORES new Centre in October during which we will invite some prominent personalities in Bafoussam  and the FIOH Network. This will serve as information meeting about disability, the work of GLORES and it should serve as a fundraising occasion.

SOME OF THE CHILDREN BEING TREATED

 

 

Mothers of two children being treated both taught how to work with children at home

 

 

 

 

Nembot, a 7 year old boy with fractured femur, immobalised in plaster

Foudyceu, a 5 year old boy with cerebral palsy undergoing ambulatory training

Check, a 4 year old boy with varus knees underoing preparation for splints

Donfack, a 5 year old boy with windswept deformity successfully treated using splints

Demanou, a girl with valgus knees before and after treatment

SCHEDULE OF CHILDREN BEING TREATED:

SCHEDULE SEPT 2019

Please support the work of the Future in Our Hands Education and Development Fund whose aim is to help and empower some of the world’s poorest and most marginalised people by:

• UK residents can provide long term support by completing the FIOH FUND DONATION FORM and sending to the address shown on the form:
• Direct grant to the charity’s bank account or by cheque to:        Bank account details:
  Co-operative Bank
  IBAN: GB07CPBK08929965050707
  BIC: CPBKGB22

Cheques should be made payable to the
Future in Our Hands E&D Fund
—————————————————————————-

Fundraising to help the work of the charities would be greatly appreciated

FIOH Fund Newsletter – Winter 2017

Alfred Wingo,the founder and director of GLORES, is shown here with one of the children being treated.

NEWSLETTER – ISSUE2 – WINTER 2017

FIOH FUND NEWSLETTER 2 – WINTER 2017

This newsletter summarises and illustrates some of the activities which have taken place in a new treatment and rehabilitation centre established in the Cameroon with the financial support of the FIOH Fund. The centre is run by Global Rehabilitation Services (GLORES), a local NGO, which moved from its former rented accommodation in April 2017.

 

Please support the work of the Future in Our Hands Education and Development Fund whose aim is to help and empower some of the world’s poorest and most marginalised people by:

• UK residents can provide long term support by completing the FIOH FUND DONATION FORM and sending to the address shown on the form:
• Direct grant to the charity’s bank account or by cheque to:        Bank account details:
  Co-operative Bank
  IBAN: GB07CPBK08929965050707
  BIC: CPBKGB22

Cheques should be made payable to the
Future in Our Hands E&D Fund
—————————————————————————-

Fundraising to help the work of the charities would be greatly appreciated

Open day at GLORES Treatment Centre

GLORES NEW CENTRE OPEN DAY

The open day that took place on May 29, 2018 was impromptu. The Sacta quarter notables of the Chieftency of Bafoussam informed GLORES of a visit with the entire quarter inhabitants. For them the building of GLORES New Centre was a big achievement in the village of Njingah and they thought  that the Centre should be given a warm welcome by the village.
The gathering was attended by 40 persons from the village with 15 notables present. In a speech delivered by the quarter head (Sub-Chief) of Njingah on the occasion the Chief welcomed GLORES to the village. He said that all the workers in GLORES should feel at home and know that they are now welcomed as inhabitants of Njingah village. He said that GLORES, being the only rehabilitation centre in the West Region of Cameroon and constructed in their village, was a great privilege for the village.  He said that the New Centre has contributed to the development of the village.
More importantly it has put their village on the map as people will be coming from all over the West and neighbouring Regions  of Cameroon for treatment of their disabled children. He paid tribute to the work GLORES is doing to help disabled children especially those from very poor families. He was particularly impressed by the fact that since he had known the work of the Centre no child has ever been left out for lack of resources.
He concluded that he was going to inform the Paramount Chief of Bafoussam about the warm welcome GLORES gave them during the open day and about the good work being done. He announced a second visit when the Coordinator of GLORES, Alfred Wingo, will be presented as a notable in the village with full rights.
The New Centre was blessed in the traditional way and the ancestors were invoked to guide and protect the Centre.
The occasion was animated by the GLORES Association Cultural Music Group and everyone danced to exhaustion. After the dance, many people expressed the desire to become members of the  Group.
The open  concluded by a reception offered

Please support the work of the Future in Our Hands Education and Development Fund whose aim is to help and empower some of the world’s poorest and most marginalised people by:

• UK residents can provide long term support by completing the FIOH FUND DONATION FORM and sending to the address shown on the form:
• Direct grant to the charity’s bank account or by cheque to:        Bank account details:
  Co-operative Bank
  IBAN: GB07CPBK08929965050707
  BIC: CPBKGB22

Cheques should be made payable to the
Future in Our Hands E&D Fund
—————————————————————————-

Fundraising to help the work of the charities would be greatly appreciated

 

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twitter.com/fiohnet

Please share our links with your friends to help us reach a wider audience.

People helped by the work of Global Rehabilitation Services

Global Rehabilitation Services has since its foundation carried out successful prosthetics treatment, including the arrangement of corrective surgery when required, for over 1,500 severely disabled children and youths.

Testimonials of six of these children are given below:

Jackson Kuetche
This child at the age of five had a severe cogenetal deformation (Bilateral valgus knees).  The picture on the right shows the boy after corrective surgery and physiotherapy.

My Name is Jackson Kuetche and I am 7 years of age.  My mother told me that when I was born, my legs were normal but later started deforming as I developed.
I went to school like other children until my legs got so serious that I found it difficult to walk to school.  There came a time that I could not walk any more.  I could only drag my buttucks on the ground to displace myself from one place to the other.  Other children were laughing at me at school and I felt so bad and could not stop crying. The problem became so serious that my parents asked me to stop schooling and stay at home.  I was sad because my brothers and sisters were going to school and I could not.
My parents were informed in the village meeting that there was a Handicap Treatment Centre called GLORES.  The village group helped my parents through contributions to pay transportation to the GLORES Centre in Bafoussam.
In GLORES they told me that my deformations were so serious that surgery was needed.  They also told my parents that I had ricketitis, a disease that causes severe deformations of the bones and retards growth and develoment.  My parents did not have money for the operation.  I started crying with my mother.  GLORES worked out a financial assistance for the operation of my legs and put me on medical treatment.  My parents only paid a small portion of the operation charges.
My legs are corrected and are straight. I can now go to school.  I am happy with my family because I have returned to school.  My family and I do not know how to thank GLORES programme.

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2. Mapta Yomgue
This two days old baby had a severe cogenetal deformity. The picture on the right shows her after one month of physiotherapy.

This testimony was given by the mother of a three year old child who was refered to GLORES for treatment for a severe congenital deformation of the right leg by the Bafoussam Regional Reference Hospital.

Mother’s observation
God still continue to perform miracles today through individual and charitable organizations like GLORES.  I believe in what I am saying because of my experience with my little girl whom I brought to GLORES at the age of two days with serious deformation of the right leg after birth.  The hospital where the child was born told me that something can only be done through surgery when the child reaches the age of 25 years.  They, however, refered the child to the Handicap Treatment Centre called GLORES.  If the hospital of that calibre could not do anything, I was left with no choice than to cry.
I brought the child to GLORES in tears. I was comforted and told not to worry.  I could not believe what they were saying.  They consulted the child and put her on treatment for one month.  To my utter amazement the child’s leg returned to normal. I could not believe myself.  I thought I was dreaming.
Now my little girl is growing up normally like other children and shows no sign of any problem at birth.  This was a miracle to me. I started thanking the therapists in GLORES but they told me that they only treat and God heals.
Thank God for giving us a treatment Centre like GLORES.  God through GLORES prevents disabilities in Children! Let God give more inspiration to the Therapists in GLORES so that they can help more handicap children in Cameroon.
Knefack Evelyn Yomgue
« Mother of Mapta Yomgue »

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3. Efone Jacque
This boy was without a left femur. The picture on the right shows him after physiotherapy

My name is Efone Jacques from Bafoussam. My parents did not want to send me to school because I found it difficult to walk due to my left leg that was deformed and shorter than the right leg from birth.  They said that going to school was not necessary since I would not be able to walk making it difficult to find a job.
When I went to GLORES they made it possible for me to walk with the help of splints and now I am in school and doing very well with my school work.  My parents, villagers and I am happy.

Efone Jacques

Note: The splints this child is using are temporal and he will continue to wear them until the age of 25 when the deformed leg will be amputated and replaced with a permanent prosthesis.

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4. Freddy Pokam
This boy had a severe limb deformation (bilateral valgus knees). The picture on the right shows him after corrective surgery, physiotherapy and splinting.

I am speechless.  I returned to the village after treatment and people could not recognize me again, even my relatives.  One of them even asked if I went to the native Doctor for the magic done on my legs.  This is really like magic.
It was already getting difficult for me to go to school. My legs were crossing over each other making it hard to walk.  The worst thing is that other children in my school were often laughing at me.  Some of them called me distorted legs.  Things like these made my school grades to go down because I was not at ease at all.
To the utter amazement and to the surprise of the villagers, I can walk normally with no sign of disability any more. I am like other children.
Thanks be to GLORES and to God above all.

Freddy Pokam

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5. Patrick Kenfack
This young man had a cogenetal deformation. The picture on the right shows him after prosthetics treatment.

I am an 18 year old boy from Bafoussam, Cameroon.  I was born with my legs deformed.  To displace myself from one place to the other I had to creep and roll.  I was brought to see the Orthopaedic surgeons from Holland for corrective surgery.  They consulted me and said that nothing could be done to my legs.  My mother and I started crying in the hospital.  The Physiotherapist from GLORES told us not to cry and that we should come to GLORES so they can see what could be done.
We did not have the confidence because the surgeons said that nothing could be done.  We, however, went to GLORES treatment Centre in Bafoussam.  I was evaluated and internalized there for three months.  They were able to straighten my deformed legs, put on prosthesis and trained me to walk.
Now I can walk and go to school and I am the secretary of the handicapped people organization (Arc -En- Ciel) in Bafoussam.  I am looking forward to finding a job after my education.

Patrick Kenfack

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6. Brunhilda Tsakong
This girl had varus knees when she was five years old. The picture on the right shows her with legs straightened by physiotherapy.

My name is Brunhilda Tsakong.  I am now 10 years of age.  My legs were deformed when I was 5 years of age.  I am from a family of 10 children and my father is a village chief with 3 wives.  My father is a farmer and his income is so small that he is unable to send all the children to school.  The 5 children that go to school are boys.  Girls are encouraged to go to the farm with their mothers.
My father could not afford to send me to the hospital for the treatment of my legs.  He once attended a village meeting which was organised by GLORES.  In the meeting, they talked about disability, treatment of handicaps and showed pictures of treated children.  My father was thrilled and took me to the GLORES Treatment Centre in Bafoussam, Cameroon.  There I was consulted and referred for corrective surgery followed be physiotherapy.
They invited my parents and encouraged them to send the girls to school with the help of GLORES.  Now I am preparing to go to the secondary school.  And my legs are straight and normal.  As a girl I feel beautiful.
Thanks to GLORES Treatment Centre.  Because of GLORES programme I can walk straight, go to school and feel beautiful.

Please support the work of the Future in Our Hands Education and Development Fund whose aim is to help and empower some of the world’s poorest and most marginalised people by:

• UK residents can provide long term support by completing the FIOH FUND DONATION FORM and sending to the address shown on the form:
• Direct grant to the charity’s bank account or by cheque to:        Bank account details:
  Co-operative Bank
  IBAN: GB07CPBK08929965050707
  BIC: CPBKGB22

Cheques should be made payable to the
Future in Our Hands E&D Fund
—————————————————————————-

Fundraising to help the work of the charities would be greatly appreciated

k:
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Please share our links with your friends to help us reach a wider audience.

New treatment centre for disabled children

Donate
Global Rehabilitation Services (GLORES) is a non-government organisation based in Bafoussam, Cameroon treating severely disabled children.  GLORES  is badly in need of a new centre to expand its services to meet a growing need.
The sum of £29,770 is needed for this of which £25,721 has already been provided by the FIOH Fund.

 

 

Background
GLORES rehabilitation approach is global, as its name implies. That is, we are not only concerned about treating disability, but ensure that our beneficiaries lead self-reliant and socio-economically independent lives.

GLORES major mission, therefore, is to prevent disability in children; identify and treat those already affected; support education, provide vocational training, placement and follow-up in their communities to achieve effective socio-economic integration.

Global Rehabilitation Services was authorized by administrative order No 238/RDA/F35/BAPP of November 2004 and registered as a non-profit association at the service of disabled children.  GLORES is made up of a group of Cameroonians of all walks of life, men and women, concerned about the plight of an increasing number of underprivileged disabled children in the West Region, who decided to make their contribution in the fight against poverty, specifically among disabled children.   GLORES is the first comprehensive rehabilitation centre in the region.

GLORES opened its doors to physically disabled children in July 2005.  Despite the micro resources available, 1,500 physically disable children have received direct services while 4,500 persons have had indirect services from GLORES.

These beneficiaries came not only from this region but also from the northwest, littoral and central provinces of Cameroon. GLORES organises the following activities from a basic rented building in Bafoussam:

PHYSIOTHERAPY DEPARTMENT
This is the first objective in our rehabilitation process where functional re-education is provided through intensive physical therapy, functional re-education, and mobility training. The aim is to ensure mobility and use of limbs because we believe that without mobility a disabled person cannot lead a productive and independent life.  During therapy, parents and the disabled persons are themselves educated to become their own therapists upon discharge from the centre.

ORTHOPAEDIC WORKSHOP
This is where splints and mobility aids are produced including orthopaedic shoes, splints and other assistive devices.  This serves as a training place for those disabled who would like to become either shoemakers or orthopaedic technicians.

 

VOCATIONAL TRAINING
After treatment, beneficiaries choose from such income-generating professions as shoe making, tailoring, hairdressing and cane work.  Upon successful completion of the training, beneficiaries are placed in either individual or group business ventures in their communities with follow-up to ensure success.

COMMUNITY BASED REHABILITATION
This is a follow-up programme in which maintenance treatment is also assured.  This involves the family and the community at large. In this programme, the families and the disabled become their own therapists.  Preventive measures are taken and disabled children are identified and referred for appropriate treatment.  Disability prevention services, human rights education, information about discrimination against the disabled are provided and self help, social, and group activities including community development participation are introduced and supported.

ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME
GLORES also runs assistance programmes to sponsor treatment and corrective orthopaedic surgery for those children with severe disabilities who are unable to afford the symbolic treatment fees.  GLORES pays particular attention to orphaned disabled children.  GLORES hopes to extend the project to include other disabilities other than physical disabilities as the project expands and develops.

The need for the new centre
Despite the successes of the activities of GLORES, the most important difficulty has been the lack of space in the present Centre to accommodate the many children being referred for treatment.  The present rented building only has four small bedrooms, a small physiotherapy treatment room, an adapted internal kitchen that is being used as the administrative office and treatment room at the same time and an external kitchen which is being used as the orthopaedic workshop.  Besides these, there is a small external traditional toilet, and two internal toilets which often fail to function due to mechanical malfunctioning and shortage of water which is common in the Bafoussam town.  In fact the house was conceived as a residential house not for other activities.

GLORES, therefore needs a larger space in order to effectively carry out the many activities as specified above. To summarise, a larger building is needed for the following reasons:

1. A larger building will help cut down the high rents we have to pay for the existing house.  The heavy rents could be use in purchasing other items for the centre.
2. We will be able to serve the many children who are asking for our help from neighbouring regions in Cameroon, GLORES being the only comprehensive rehabilitation centre for physically disabled children.
3. A more spacious workshop will help us in the production of more orthopaedic equipments without leaving children to wait for long to get ambulation and other equipments.  It will also provide space for the training of disabled children in the production of orthopaedic equipments.
4. A larger treatment room will help us better position treatment equipments and consequently we will be able able to treat many children simultaneously.  With the present structure children have to be put on the waiting list to have treatment.
5. There will be enough dormitories to accommodate children, most of whom come from distant villages and have no place to stay for follow-up treatment.
6. The hygiene situation will be solved with available toilets and the water system.
7. The New building will be situated by a major surfaced road and is more reachable by public transport unlike the present centre.
8. The new building will be more adapted for handicapped persons.
9. There will be space to train disabled children to engage in income-generating professions.
10. A new centre will provide a conference room which will be rented by the public for meetings thus generating income for the centre.

The land for the centre was purchased in 2014.

Delivering sand
The completed foundations.
Making blocks.
Wall construction

 

Water is collected by hand from a local stream.

Roof construction.
Completed roof.
Window protection – September 2016.

 

 

 

Alfred Wingo assists visiting Dutch surgeons with an operation.

Moving testimonials of six of the children treated by GLORES

Fo

Please support the work of the Future in Our Hands Education and Development Fund whose aim is to help and empower some of the world’s poorest and most marginalised people by:

• UK residents can provide long term support by completing the FIOH FUND DONATION FORM and sending to the address shown on the form:
• Direct grant to the charity’s bank account or by cheque to:        Bank account details:
  Co-operative Bank
  IBAN: GB07CPBK08929965050707
  BIC: CPBKGB22

Cheques should be made payable to the
Future in Our Hands E&D Fund
—————————————————————————-

Fundraising to help the work of the charities would be greatly appreciated

Future in Our Hands Education and Development Fund
48 Churchward Avenue
Swindon, Wiltshire SN2 1NH
United Kingdom
Registered Charity No. 1047953

Global Rehabilitation Services

Global rehabilitation Services (GLORES)
GLORES was started in 2004 by Cameroonian, Alfred Wingo, after receiving prosthetics training in the USA.
The work of GLORES in a poor rented building in Bafoussam, capital of the West Region of Cameroon, was observed by FIOH Fund trustee, Mike Thomas in 2009. He was impressed by what  GLORES was achieving with very basic equipment.

A video showing Mike Thomas interviewing Alfred Wingo.
Disabled people in the West Region of Cameroon, especially children, suffer from neglect and discrimination due to ignorance and cultural beliefs about disability.  There is a general lack of care and rehabilitation planning in the country and disabled children, who are mostly from poor families, rarely obtain an education and employment.  They are often viewed as being possessed of evil spirits and a curse upon their parents.  Hence they may be locked up at home and fed like animals and hidden from society.  It is estimated that about 70% of disabled children suffer from neglect and discrimination.

GLORES organises its work in three major sections:

1. Prevention of disabilities through health education and encouragement of parents to vaccinate their children against diseases causing disabilities. Part of the education focuses on prenatal/postnatal care, nutrition, hygiene, genetic information and environmental pollution.
2. Physical therapy that includes therapeutic exercises, mobility training, functional re-education, occupational therapy and activity training for coping with everyday life.
3. Vocational training in 3 trades.  The disabled person makes the choice of trade and is then able to undergo training in that trade for one year in a sheltered workshop environment. Younger children who cannot work are sent to local schools for their education.  While the child is in school parents will take an active part in its education and prepare to take over responsibility for the child’s welfare later on.  After successful completion of the training disabled persons are settled in their individual group ventures or employment and there will be follow-up by GLORES for a few months after treatment and training has finished.

Once a disabled person goes through the GLORES project he or she becomes a member of the GLORES family.  GLORES monitors all the outcomes of its work in order to evaluate its effectiveness and introduce improvements where necessary.

The pictures below show some of the disabled youths and children before, during and after treatment:

Moving testimonials of six of the children treated by GLORES

If you would like to support the work of the Future in Our Hands Education and Development Fund please make a donation:

 

Please support the work of the Future in Our Hands Education and Development Fund whose aim is to help and empower some of the world’s poorest and most marginalised people by:

• UK residents can provide long term support by completing the FIOH FUND DONATION FORM and sending to the address shown on the form:
• Direct grant to the charity’s bank account or by cheque to:        Bank account details:
  Co-operative Bank
  IBAN: GB07CPBK08929965050707
  BIC: CPBKGB22

Cheques should be made payable to the
Future in Our Hands E&D Fund
—————————————————————————-

Fundraising to help the work of the charities would be greatly appreciated