Historical FBK/OZO
In 1991, Eva and Jörg Erdmann, who would later become Swiss doctors, met Roger Krebser (a dual citizen of France and Switzerland) in Cameroon. He was working as a technician at a hospital and spent his free time making orthotics and prosthetics. Having lived there for 20 years, he had become acutely aware of the difficult situation faced by many people with disabilities in Cameroon.
In 1996, Roger Krebser founded the organization JHAR—Association d’aide et de réintégration des jeunes handicapés (Aid and Reintegration Association for Young People with Disabilities in Cameroon).
The Swiss association FBK was founded in 1998 to provide financial and medical support to JHAR.
In 2003, FBK used private donations to fund the construction of a building known as the Obala Orthopedic Center, or “OZO.” Prior to that, Roger Krebser had been working at a hospital in the Yaoundé area, where space was limited.
In 2008, the project was evaluated by medical experts from Switzerland and Cameroon. They confirmed the high demand for the services offered by OZO and its professionalism. They suggested expanding the services to include other chronic diseases.
In 2012, the Orthopedic Center was expanded, thanks in part to financial support from a Swiss foundation. Today, it consists of several buildings.
Part of the building is used for outpatient care (examination rooms, physical therapy and casting rooms, pharmacy, prosthetics workshop), while the other part is dedicated to inpatients (dormitories, kitchen, and lounge).
The center also has its own water supply and a power generator.