A Village "Health Clinic" in Ofaakor

Cathy, a nursing instructor in Koforidua, has befriended us and spent 2 days of adventure already. This beautiful day we took a one hour tro-tro ride to the town where Cathy lives and then she drove another 1 1/2 hours to a village in Ofaakor where she created a health clinic that she goes a couple times a month. After we arrived up a long dirt road from the main route we stopped at a single room house with a canopy for shade. It is named the "Goodnews Ministry" and is run by Janice, the lady with the blue dress and beautiful smile. She preaches to the outlying villages and has more energy than anyone else there.

The first thing Janice did as we got out of the car was to greet us with the biggest, warmest hug I think I've ever received. Then we were seated under the canopy with about 20 adults around. They greeted us semi-formally as is the custom here using both the "Twi" and "Ewe" languages. and taught us the proper responses and then laughed along with us at our awkward attempts.

We then all walked together down the dirt road to the Queen's house. The queen was away (and also the king) but we were shown to seats under a beautiful, big tree, a table was brought out and "Voila!" there was our clinic. Cathy brought (with her own money) several varieties of vitamins, ibuprophen, cold meds, and laxatives. Also a B/P cuff and stethoscope and glucometer.

WE thought we had come to observe the process, but Cathy had other ideas. . We were full participants, along with Michael, our house mate and almost med student. Well, Michael was called "doctor" all day as he took B/Ps (he had only learned how the day before with the nursing student who also lives with us), histories, and gave out vits, etc. Cathy has her Master''s in Nursing and is allowed to write prescriptions and administer meds. We wrote a "file" with each person's name (and believe me THAT was adventure in communications, because several of them do not know how to write their OWN names). We took vital signs and Cathy did the glucometer, and we all asked for histories or present problems. Silvia was the pharmacist's helper and photographer.

At first it was confusing. . then it was overwhelming. . and then just a "let go and let God" thing adventure. After that it was just plain beautiful and we felt truly honored to be in such a place with such loving, accepting people so willing to learn and appreciative of any help. Among the approx 40 adults under the tree we saw 2 previously diagnosed TB patients that were not taking their meds (OOPS! Good thing we were out in the open air, wasn't it?), one abdominal pains, a pregnancy with possible spotting, headaches, fatigue (a lady with 13 children). There was also a mother with 3 month old twins, one of which is in a picture of me. The babies were alert, but a little small for the US and slightly less muscle tone. Babies are carried on the mother's back almost continuously. . What a lot of teaching opportunity! Of course telling them to drink when water was so far away and possibly contaminated and CAUSING the problem, or else bagged "pure" water was too expensive for them to buy. . . I think we learned far more than they, especially gratitude!

After we spent 3 or 4 hours seeing the adults there was an additional approx 20 children. We did not question them all, but one served as an excellent interpreter for the adults. Michael, twelve years old, spoke perfect English and is one of the 12 students that Cathy pays the school fees. There were a couple adults and children with dryness of the eyes and also poor vision (remember the Lion's Club signs you see to donate glasses? They are really treasured over in places like here. . .) With Cathy's guidance we referred 5 or 6 to go the doctor ASAP and another lady in her 30's to go right away with a fever and malaria symptoms. . .

When we finished the "clinic" we each had a bracelet of treasured glass beads custom made for us on our arms by an elder of the group (with Janice overseeing and giving input always). We then were escorted all together back up the dirt road. We were seated and they began to sing and dance for us. Silvia, of course, joined them with the dancing and people always love it so when we respond and join in. (I'm good at hand clapping and keeping time.) And we say "thank you" (Maydasi peeeee in "twi") a million times a day just to see the surprise and pleasure on their faces as well as the fact that we are being sincerely grateful.

We were then offered a basin of clean water that they have to fetch 20 minutes each way along with soap and a clean cloth towel. By now we know what an honor it is for them to provide water when it is such a chore. . . We were then served "banku" which is cooked and ground casava, or yucca (I think I have that right now) in a consistency of moist bread dough. You eat it with your hands with various sauces which was this time a tomato base with fish pieces (head, tails, bones, etc). It is usually quite spicy and very good! Then another bowl of water and soap, etc is served. We were the only ones eating. . .I could only hope that they would be having something as good. .

After our meal we passed out some candy, pencils, and paper that Cathy had also provided for the children. She has 3 children of her own and she and her husband pay the school fees for 12 additional children from this village. Schools here all cost some money and some kids simply are not able to go at all (or stay very long) due to lack of funds. And some of the schools have very difficult situations with no books or paper and teachers that do not come to work or come many hours late or that hit them or yell if they do not perform correctly. But schools are another subject that I will get into another time . . .

We were then escorted to a house that had an indoor toilet that was clean and adequate, but with no running water the flushing is accomplished with a bucket of previously hauled water (remember 20 minutes each way). they carry water, like everything else, on their heads. . . Even small children can do it! The most amazing thing I saw was a seamstress carrying a Singer sewing machine (not electric of course) on her head and Cathy said they do that and go door to door to repair or sew "on the go".

When we finished after much ado and pictures and singing by the children, we were all rather quiet for a while (unusual for the 4 of us). It was a day filled to the brim and one that I think EVERYONE shall remember. I certainly hope we will go back again, and I also realize that this was such a small TIP OF THE ICEBERG. These folks need and welcome health teaching and could use info on nutrition, hygiene, and family planning according to Cathy's plans. And they are just a small village of the many, many that exist. But for this day we accepted we had made a difference if even a small one for a small part of the whole picture and made the acquaintance of some beautiful human beings doing the best they can with what they have (and do not have. .) JUDI