Category Archives: Humanitarian

In the heart of Accra, there’s a landscape that belongs in a sci-fi movie. Agbogbloshie is a sprawling slum, famous for its eco-unfriendly recycling practices. Electronics are disassembled and melted down and lots of other toxic stuff goes up in smoke here. Pro-Link has a couple of projects in Agbogbloshie. One is the ADRA/Linkages HIV/AIDS and STI testing and screening project. They have a drop-in centre and their clients are male and female sex workers. A team of peer educators scours the alleyways for clients, providing them with education and referral information. They also keep tabs on their clients for follow-up care. The other project is called Obraapa, where sex workers are taught how to make a variety of beaded items including bags, decorated slippers, necklaces, bracelets and earrings. While I was there a group gathered around a table and started sorting beads. Aggie, a feisty gal leading the group came charging over to me holding up some coloured beads. Would I like a bracelet? I pointed to my ankle. I had been craving an anklet ever since I saw the ones the Obraapa women had made for my boss. Aggie’s fingers moved quickly and in no time she was fastening her creation around my ankle. Beautiful! It didn’t stop there, she also whipped together a chunky necklace and matching earrings. Wow.
This girl was talented. We took pictures and then the peer educators had to leave for their rounds. Despite such a challenging environment, the young women were playful and full of fun. “Is that your natural hair colour?” one asked me. “Well, not exactly, I lighten it. Is that your natural hair?” I responded. She laughed and patted her braids. “Not exactly.” We all laughed. Funny how that visit changed my preconceptions. Despite the sci-fi landscape, these young women were like young women everywhere. Full of vitality, hopes and dreams. Their work with Pro-Link has bolstered their self-confidence. They’ve seen other young woman who have become role models in their community and they know it is possible eventually to reach some of their goals. As they say here in Ghana, “God willing!”

It was a long, long journey, completed in one day. And worth every minute of time spent travelling there. I joined Executive Director Trudi Nunoo recently to visit the Kadjedbi office in the Volta District, north of the town of Hohoe.
Starting out at dawn with our driver Mr. Osei, we headed east then north for seven hours, much of the time dodging potholes. We reached the new office at around 1 pm. In the back of the pick-up truck were supplies to support the office’s ADRA Linkages project — a drop in centre and room for HIV testing and counseling. We brought a flat-screen TV, air conditioning unit and supplies for the nurse’s station.
Program Manager Mawusi Tsaku and the office’s gender advocate Pat Mejom welcomed us and proudly showed us around the new digs. Then it was time to check on three of the area projects. First up was the AWDF women’s agricultural empowerment project. Driving a little outside of town, we headed up a dirt road then walked down a winding path. Ahead was a green field and a scattering of women watering their crops — garden eggs (similar to small green eggplants) and cabbage. The water was coming from a length of hose, pumped from the adjacent river. Green and luxurious, the crops covered. 1.5 hectres of land, designated by the village chief. The group’s president told me the 15 members worked in rotating shifts — some went to market to sell produce, some worked the field and some were at home doing domestic chores. “We share some of the profit but also put money we make back into seeds,” the group leader told me.
After a fond farewell and lots of picture-taking, we hopped into the truck to head to our next destination.

Me, Trudi Nunoo, Pro-link Executive Director and health workers in Ekabeku.

Hitting the road with the Pro-Link team the last week of October was a great way to experience first hand the Healthy Mother and Child project, a corporate social responsibility initiative by Italian company eni Oil. Ghana is rich in oil (and gold, hence it used to be called the Gold Coast) and there are many foreign companies extracting here.
It took us seven hours to get to Essiama, a small town in the Ellembelle district in the Western Region, where the maternal health training would take place with 31 local nurses and health workers. I’ve learned it’s not so much the distance but time of day, and actual day that adds hours to your travels. Accra traffic is crazy and the police stop vehicles randomly, clogging up the roads and causing unending jams.You cannot be in a hurry. Difficult for my North American sensibilities. It is best to avoid rush hour if possible. Also avoid Fridays. Sundays are perfect – everyone is in church.

The training took place at the Wantapa Hotel where we were staying. From sun up to sun down the days were brutally hot. Hardworking AC just barely kept us from melting. I took pictures and notes as the the group learned about infection prevention, medical waste disposal, infant feeding and nutrition, HIV/AIDS testing and counseling and more.
There are certain traditional practices that the health workers are fighting to change and perhaps the most damaging is herbal enemas to speed the birthing process. “They trigger contractions, but they also damage the uterus,” Trudi Nunoo, Pro-Link’s executive director told me. The trouble is, this practice is encouraged by grandmothers, aunties and traditional birth attendants, so health workers must educate the whole community, not just expecting mothers.
We also visited a number of maternal health clinic renovations and new constructions in the area. In total, there are 15 facilities in the project: Half Assini, New Ankasa, Tweakor II, Ekabeku, New Town, Samaye, Adubrim, Asomase, Aidoo Suazo, Aiyinasi, Asasetre, Essiama, Nokroful, Tikobo No. 1 and Agona Nkwanta. Mind boggling.
Here’s an official description:
The Healthy Mother and Child project addresses important maternal health and child health issues in the Jomoro, Ellenbelle and Ahanta West districts in Ghana’s Western Region. The project aims to support Ghanaian Healthcare Authority action to achieve the Millennium Goals, number 4 and 5 —reduce child mortality and improve maternal health. A major focus is revamping neglected maternity blocks as well as building new facilities so that women may give birth safely, with a skilled professional health care worker in attendance. Additionally, the project will ensure children and families receive improved health care in their communities.
Included in the project is training for almost 400 nurses and other health care providers, formation of Mummies’, Daddies’ and Adolescents’ clubs to provide positive maternal and child health education, and new medical equipment and furniture for the revamped and newly constructed maternal health facilities.

Nurses with their training certificates.