In the African nation of Cameroon, a needless tragedy unfolds everyday for thousands of people diagnosed with renal disease. Commonplace in developed countries, chronic dialysis is an essential, readily available lifesaving treatment for individuals whose kidneys cannot remove waste and excess fluid from the blood stream due to sudden or chronic organ failure.

In a country slightly larger in land mass than California, 16 million proud citizens are served by ten functioning dialysis machines, fewer machines than are found in even the most modest community hospital or freestanding dialysis unit in the United States. The fee for each treatment is unquestionably out of reach for the vast majority of people in the Third World. In the words of one Cameroonian, renal failure is "a death sentence."


World Organization of Renal Therapies (WORTH) was formed as a non-profit corporation to address this issue, with the goal of creating self-sustaining dialysis centers in the capital city of Yaounde initially, and replicating an effective model across the country. In the longer-term, Cameroon will serve as a beachhead from which we will build other units and train personnel. First and foremost, nobody will be turned away from a WORTH unit for the inability to pay.

WORTH is guided by inspired and knowledgeable volunteer leadership, a clear and manageable goal, and demonstrated support from resources within the United States and Cameroon. With a unique connection to the Cameroonian culture established by nephrologist and WORTH founder Wayne Trebbin, M.D., and the incredible support of people in that country and the U.S., the organization's efforts are culturally sensitive and require only your support to succeed.

Please join us.