After being diagnosed with kidney failure and underwent six months of dialysis treatment, ex-national team footballer, John Bass is doing his part to raise awareness of kidney disease. Bass is set to launch the John Bass Kidney Foundation on November 16th at the Semega Janneh Hall in Serekunda East.
Bass, 25, is committed to raising awareness on kidney disease across a wide spectrum. The John Bass Foundation will help dialysis patients manage the complex emotional trauma of their illness by providing a forum where they can share their stories and hear the voices of others.
“We are looking forward to achieving John’s long-term dream which is creating awareness about kidney failure, “says Buba Jallow Falaboweh, the ambassador of the foundation. “It’s very important to launch this foundation because it will give the chance to others to learn about the causes and the preventative measure of kidney failure.”
The foundation will also produce short and long-form documentaries about patient experiences during dialysis and the uncertainty of waiting for a transplant. “It is expected to be strong and a vibrant foundation that will be here to stay,” Jallow said. “The Gambia and other sub-Saharan African countries are facing challenges in relation to a high rate of kidney disease, so it’s prudent for us to set the pace in fighting this illness.”
John Bass was born and raised in Lamin where his career began with the Lamin town football team before joining Ports Authority and Brikama United. He attracted the love of the coaches when his Daranka United reached the semi-final of the Lamin Nawettan. Though they didn’t win the title, he was certified as the Most Outstanding Player of the Nawettan. The left-back/center-back later joined the senior national team under the stewardship of Sang Ndong. He also had stints with the Gambian CHAN team.
