Asaase Foundation raises GHC1 million for dialysis machines
The president of the Asaase Foundation, Kojo Mensah, says: “If you look at all the monies gathered so far it’s in excess of GHC1 million.” The money will go towards kidney care in parts of Ghana where it is most needed
- "There are three other machines but we have to identify locations to donate them. There’s also been a pledge to treat at least one person for three months. The treatment is very expensive."
The president of the Asaase Foundation and lead consultant for Asaase Broadcasting’s international partnerships, Kojo Mensah, has disclosed that the foundation has raised over GHC1 million to support individuals with kidney disease.
The Asaase Foundation – established to drive corporate social responsibility initiatives by Asaase Radio – held a charity ball on Saturday (26 February 2022) to raise funds to support people suffering from kidney diseases.
The event, which was held at the Omanye Hall of the Labadi Beach Hotel, was just one effort by the Asaase Foundation to increase awareness, educate the public about kidney health and raise funds for dialysis machines and treatment.
Equipment purchased with the money raised will be donated to selected health facilities in Ghana to treat patients with renal disease.
“If you look at all the monies gathered so far it’s in excess of GHC1 million,” Mensah said. “The purpose of the whole gathering was to launch the foundation beyond anything else. We made sure to donate the first two machines to Wa Regional Hospital and Sunyani Regional Hospital.
“There are three other machines but we have to identify locations to donate them. There’s also been a pledge to treat at least one person for three months. The treatment is very expensive,” said Uncle Kojo, as he is affectionately known, speaking with Naa Ashorkor on Between Hours.
Pressing needs
According to him, the Asaase Foundation wants to help kidney disease patients who have pressing needs.
“We want to put our efforts where it’s most needed. We are looking at what the most important thing to do is. We are looking at beyond giving machines, we are looking at sustaining that giving, it is far more important looking to identify the most needy,” he said.
“One of the most important guides of our foundation is for it not to become another one of those instruments of people just messing around with other people’s money.”
Talking about how important the foundation is to him, he said, “People are personal to me, people doing well is important to me, people’s success and people living their best life, too, I want to care about kidney care and I have gotten to understand how serious it is.
“We’ve all been blinded, and that’s because we didn’t know, so the more you get into it the more you understand it. I believe that advocacy and education is a problem, so it’s better finding people who want to do something about the problem,” he said.
He again asked the general public to be concerned about kidney-related issues and provide information when they get access to it.
“What will also be helpful is when people tell us, ‘I know about this, I have heard about this, please look into it and see how it’s going to go. Information like this will be helpful to us.”
The KGL Foundation made a generous contribution to the fundraising to promote kidney health. Support for the event also came from Colours in Africa, the multimedia artist Francis Y Brown, Afranie of Nekad Platinum Art, the Artists’ Alliance Gallery/Glover family, Heather Badger of Artivity, Heritage Pots, Jane’M Salon & Spa, Mansa Gold, Skin Gourmet and the Wellness Institute.
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