The nonprofit Christian Research Hospital (CRH) is hosting its first annual convention on Friday, April 21 and Saturday, April 22, titled \u201cMerciful African Supper for the Poorest with HIV\/AIDS.\u201d<\/p>\n
CRH wants to host the event to say, \u201cthank you\u201d for all the support they have received since their start in 2015, according to sophomore Kendall Carwile. Carwile, a member of the event\u2019s promotion team, said she would love for the convention to become a regular event.<\/p>\n
\u201cHopefully, every year we can use this convention as a way to say, \u2018thank you\u2019 for the support that the contributors showed in the past year as well with the progress that has been made,\u201d Carwile said.<\/p>\n
The convention will also serve as a final fundraising push for the CRH\u2019s mission trip to Cameroon, which will take place from June 16 \u2013 28, 2017. According to assistant professor of pharmaceutical science Dr. Landry Kamdem (founder of CRH), the nonprofit is hoping to assist 5,000 patients in Cameroon by providing patients access to free blood and urine tests as well as treatment monitoring.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs it stands\u2026 CRH will be able to adopt either 175 poor HIV patients to have access to free HIV care for one year or 700 patients to have access to free HIV care for three months,\u201d Kamdem said in a letter about the event. \u201cThis is amazing and incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, according to Kamdem, there are still over 4,000 patients that will be without care, and the upcoming event aims to raise more funds before the group\u2019s trip to Cameroon.<\/p>\n
Kamdem\u2019s long-term goal with CRH is to establish a clinical research facility in Garoua, Cameroon. According to Arkansas Online, Kamdem said that God told him to use his pharmaceutical talents to help the world\u2019s \u201cpoorest and sickest,\u201d which began his nonprofit organization.<\/p>\n
After the event, Kamdem\u2019s mission trip to Cameroon will continue his study of the community\u2019s health needs. According to Arkansas Online, Kamdem said there is no specific plan for when the Cameroon facility will be built, but he hopes that others will become involved in the organization\u2019s efforts, and hopefully the first annual event will help.<\/p>\n
The event will be hosted at two different locations, with the Friday event held at the St. James Catholic Church featuring an African dance performance, a fashion show displaying cultural African dress, and dinner for guests. The primary focus of the Friday event will be about the HIV virus and the AIDS mission work, and will take place from 6 to 9 p.m.<\/p>\n
The second event will be held at Harding University in the Administration Auditorium and will feature many of the same elements as the previous night (including an African dance performance as well as the cultural fashion show), in addition to snacks and coffee for guests. The primary focus of the Saturday event will be about poverty in economically struggling areas, and will take place from 9 to noon.<\/p>\n