The Origins:

Imagine those kids left home alone when mum is in hospital with their sibling in sickle crisis; those babies that will hardly see their 5th birthday due to sickle crises; think about crises sufferers desperate for painkillers who will be labelled drug addicts by the ignorant public, or lazy by their employers for taking vital timeout at work; think about…That  was the plight of people Comfort met in her Hackney patch when she joined the Sickle Cell Society in London some 20 years ago. Such was to become her dedication that Comfort spent the rest of her career toiling to make life a little better for people affected by sickle-cell disease- the commonest severe hereditary blood condition in man, yet one of the most marginalised. As Regional Adviser for North London, for seven years running Comfort orchestrated her army of community volunteers to run the Sickle Cell Society’s flag ship Children’s Holiday, a hugely popular weeklong Summer respite camp for sickle children, held at various countryside venues across England. Comfort’s notorious advocacy activities contributed to enormous strides the Society achieved: standards of clinical care, a community support hub model, a WHO resolution (in 2006) declaring sickle-cell a global concern… in short repositioning the little-known cause from the margin to the mainstream of the UK NHS.  It says it all, when among many other accolades a non-nurse is named ‘Nurse of the Year’, as the people of Hackney did honour Comfort a couple of times !  

Lately, she turned her attention to her native Cameroon, where the plight is far greater – an estimated 10,000 new sickle babies are born annually. And so, Comfort launched the Cameroon Sickle Cell Organisation (CamSiCO)  in London in May 2013. She had prior-established CamSiCO in Cameroon in February 2013 assembling a small group of patients, carers and health professionals who had the common interest of wanting to raise awareness of sickle cell disorder and improve care for those who suffered from the condition.  Thus the founder ‘Support Group’ she developed from humble beginnings in a sitting- room in Bamenda, Northwest Province in 2008 became a national non-profit organisation that is the Cameroon Sickle Cell Organisation (CamSiCO) today. 
 

Objects of CamSiCO:

Advocacy: arguing the case for people affected 

Raising Awareness of the hereditary causes of sickle cell disorder

Counselling: providing un-bias factual information to enable informed decision making

Surveillance and Research (engagement of local health service agents)

Lobby for vital medication: folic acid, painkillers, hydroxy-urea, transfusions

Community education and partnerships (formation of local Sickle Cell Clubs)

Outreach work and workshops to inform, educate and support people and communities

From its Buea base, the organisation is presently concentrating its activities in the former West Cameroon regions, (Northwest and Southwest Regions), and Yaoundé; it is working in partnership and collaborating with existing support groups and other organisations, all  having the common purpose to improve the quality of life for individuals affected by sickle cell disorder. CamSiCO is also creating and/ or strengthening groups around the country. These groups are called Sickle Cell Clubs with the first one already established in Ndop in the Northwest Province.  CamSiCO acts as an umberalla organisation for these groups. However, the historic common purpose of coming together to sing from the same hymn sheet is to create a louder voice for the sickle cell community.  CamSiCO is in a great position to advance the cause of sickle cell but this will be done in a symbolic relationship with individuals’ members and sickle cell  clubs enabling us to truly be “The Voice of the Sickle Cell Community”, so taking the original message from London to Cameroon.
 

The Lady’s Gone But Lest We Forget !

Certainly not with her ensuring that we all pledged as she made it her last wish, during those fateful last days of October just gone at the Trinity Hospice in Clapham Common, London.  And so, With Such A Legacy Everly Fresh In Our Memory, Rest Thee Well Old Lady In Your Peace Profound !

Dr Asa’ah  Nkohkwo FRSPH (Chief Fuaseh Fontem)
Formerly CEO & Specialist Adviser, Sickle Cell Society UK
Counsel of Reference, Cameroon Sickle Cell Organisation.
London, November 2016

Comfort Tembu –Ndive fondly known as “Ma Comfort” was born March 15, 1958 in Limbe Cameroon; daughter of Rose Neng Mofor and Robert Tembu Focho. She attended Primary School Mbengwi, Momo Division Cameroon and proceeded to Saker Baptist College, Limbe, Cameroon.

Ma Comfort worked as a typist both in Cameroon and in Nigeria. She moved to England, where she obtained a diploma in Management Studies and later obtained a Masters degreee in International shipping.

Ma Comfort lived in London at the famous “Clive House” for over 30 years where she cared for and opened her doors to every Cameroonian who came to the UK and did not have somewhere to live. She was also Mother, Aunty, Sister and Friend to hundreds of Cameroonians in England. Her "4 Clive House" was famous for hosting some of the best and fun parties for Cameroonians, Nigerians, Ghanians and other Africans during festive seasons especially Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Ma Comfort worked for Hammersmith and Fulham borough council in London. Due to her continuous caring and humanitarian nature, Mama moved to work with Sickle Cell Society. She later founded a national non-profit organisation, Cameroon Sickle Cell Organisation (CamSiCO), focused on catering to the needs of children and families affected by the dreaded Sickle Cell Disease. 

She was one of the founding members of Meta Cultual and Development Association (MeCuDA) in London and hosted a lot of the meetings at the famous 4 Clive House during the early days of the organization.  

Ma Comfort leaves behind a big family including her dear mother, husband, daughter, sisters, brothers, cousins, aunties, uncles, nephews, friends and adopted/extended family members.

There was never a dull moment with Ma Comfort. She will be greatly missed!