Ghana, all in all, is an amazing country. Loads of friendly faces always smiling, and the people behind those smiles are always wanting to help. The city of Kumasi, with a population close to 2 million, is something I like to refer to as a city that never sleeps. It’s a busy place filled with tro tro’s and taxis, that takes the idea of traffic to a whole new level.

I had the opportunity to work at the children hospital in Adum(forgive me as I can never remember the name of it ). There I met a wonderful doctor who was able to show me the ins and outs of the health clinic, to whom I am very grateful for. It was interesting to see what goes on in a hospital on this side of the globe and what kind of illnesses were present in Ghanian children the most. I came across malaria and malnutrition the most, and found them to be the top two reasons why the hospital was flooded with patients each and every day. Also, because of the rainy season many children also succumbed to upper and lower respitory tract infections. While malaria is a very serious illness, it is known to the African population and is both common and seemingly unavoidable at times. What really bothered me were the number of malnourished children and the way these situations were being handled by the mothers. Even if the child was given treatment, it seemed that most of the time the child would return because of lack of maintenance on the mother’s part. With all of the problems faced in the clinic, like ridiculous wait times, lack of care by some staff, and lack of medical supplies, it is a great atmosphere to work in if you come across the right people. And when I say people I mean the right doctors and staff who sincerely care about the patients. I was able to learn so much from the doctor I had the privilege to consult with. I not only learned about the illnesses most of the children were victim to, I learned a lot about the way services are delivered to a patient also. I better understand the importance of being culturized when it comes to health care and that the relationship a doctor has with their patients is very important and xan truly determine the outcome of a patient’s health and their willingness to seek or keep up with a physician’s advice. To me, communication and a how culturally aware and sympathetic a person is can go a lot further than any scientific knowledge they may have. What I have learned here will surely follow me in the future when I get the opportunity to travel more.

There are many monumental places to visit in Ghana, of which one of the most historical is the city of Cape Coast. This place screams history, leaving tourists both emotional and fascinated at the same time. It’s great to see people from all over the world come to visit a placed like this and leave with more knowledge and a little piece of Ghana. Places to visit include Cape Coast castle, Kakum National Park, Elmina Castle, and the Monkey Forest (not sure if that is the exact name), etc. Other monumental sites are located throughout the country with quite a few in Kumasi also.

With all of the frustrations and enjoyments brought upon while being in Ghana, it is an experience that only comes by rarely in a lifetime. Being in Ghana really teaches a person to exercise patience, aquire a relaxed attitude, and to take things as they come. More importantly it taught me life is more important than tangible things, and to be grateful for what I have like the simple things many people do not come across. It makes me more appreciative toward life, a quality that I have to remember to never take for granted.

Paulette Osamor

USA

Medical volunteer

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