We all arrived safely in Ghana and Kumasi. There is so much to tell in only one day but since email connection is iffy, I will try some small posts. Other people will be posting as well. Our gear arrived as well- six tubs of IVU eqiment and 2 large duffel bags. We all managed to sleep some on the plane so we were all not too tired. The weather is a warm 74 degrees.
The people are lovely here and vert sweet. Our host Dr Aboa was happy to see us and his resident Yoyke was a weath of inforamtion about the medical insurance for Ghanians as well as medica education. Everyone i Ghan had access to health insurance. It is free for those people who pay into sical security and 12 US dollars per year for a family for those self employed. It covers everything but plastic surgery and some rare congential syndromes. I also saw examples of public health measures- for HIV and TB as well awarenss for prenatal care.
It si a rough here by Western standards. Ghanias have a higher quality of life than may W Africans, but it is still alow standard of lining. Most homes have no electricity, no water and no sweage. The bigger cities have more amenities but not every day. The infrastructure is also inconsistent. We traveled on some very rough roads and we stood in traffic a lot. Everytime we were still however gave many young women and boys opportunity to sell us all sorts of things- most resting on there heads. Water, plantains, some small fried bird, palm nuts, fried cake, boiled eggs, and planety of thoer things we could not identify.
These children should be in school-there are public schoold that are mostly free- but I have the feeling they are working for thier families either selling or hauling water from a well or pump, burning trash or the like. There have been some imporvments froma report I read in 2000 about city governemnt and povery in Kumasi. Some of the services may have improved and at least now health care is covered for all. There is a doctor shortage outside the teaching hosptitals in the districts, but the governemtn is working on sending people there.
We start tomorrow at 6 am and start clinic we hope at 8am. There is more surgery here than we can hope to do in one week, but after we meet the children we will plan to rest of the week. One half the staff will unpack the OR and set up.
The food is pretty good but we only had one meal given we were on the bus for over 6 hours. They have this awesome hot sauce that reminds me of a spicy Chinese bean paste. It is really good on fried potatoes.
~Stephanya Shear
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