More African Adventures...

It has only been a week, but it seems like so much has happened since my last entry. I’ve noticed that the first week or so in a new place somehow seems eternal. When you’re busy taking in every minuscule detail of a new setting, culture, way of life, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and that the day will never end. That being said, I’m relieved and pleased to announce that we've made it through yet another week without any serious meltdowns. Sure, I'm annoyed that my cheeks have become a feasting ground for some sort of (non-mosquito) insect, and I'm not amused by certain people who befriend us only to later take advantage of us. But these minor details have been greatly overshadowed by all the genuine people we've met, villages we have visited, and interesting projects we have been working on over the past week.

At the end of last week, I was still working with the Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health unit. Each day, we set out to a new village to schedule appointments with the different PEs and AMs, all of whom were very welcoming and open to having me sit in on their meetings. In Nakong (I think), I was shown around the health clinic. This clinic was fairly basic; any severe cases had to be referred to Chania some 15 km away. Selenia, the nurse in charge, showed me her register where she keeps track of all the patients she has seen. We talked about the kinds of illnesses she treats; she sees many cases of diarrhea, and during the summer months she often sees an increase in cases of malaria. We also talked about the sequence of events that takes place when/if someone needs to get to Chania. They are to call the Health Center there, and a car is sent to pick up the sick patient. However, judging from the experience I’ve had with the phone lines, I’m not sure how quick and efficient this kind of communication tends to be. We have had plenty of issues with the phone lines since we have been here, but luckily, we have not had any emergencies. Working with the ASRH unit opened me up to the broad spectrum of sexual health issues the NHRC deals with on a daily basis. I briefed Dr. Debpuur after my stint with the ASRH unit, and then went on to enjoy our first weekend.

Friday was an eventful day because we finally went to the market. We had been eating nothing but carbs all week, and we were dying for some vegetables. Amariah was kind enough to show us around the market. At one point, we had bought a ton of groceries, including a yam that weighed about 8 lbs, and she wanted us to leave all the bags by the taxi station and run into a nearby store. I kept asking, “Are you sure no one will take these?”, and she seemed shocked that we even had to ask. Sure enough, we went into the store, and ten minutes later our bags were just as we had left them. There’s something about the confidence and trust that Ghanaians feel in their community that is really unparallel in the US, even in some of the friendliest neighborhoods. This moment reminded me that I need to try to lighten up and live as the Ghanaians do. Being the obvious outsiders in Navrongo has really motivated us to get out and meet people, whatever the cost!! We went to a bar on Friday to have some drinks, and we were greeted by someone who actually works at the Center. It was a warm reception, and we laughed at how small Navrongo really is. On Saturday, we went to Paga, a town that borders Burkina Faso, and we sat on crocodiles and visited a slave camp. Sunday was a reminder to all that it is still the rainy season, and therefore, we stayed huddled indoors while the thunder rolled outside. It was a great storm that left everything red and muddy.

So Monday was the start of a brand new week, which meant it was time for us to alternate units. I moved over to Social Sciences where their main project of late has been the Urban Malaria Project. One year ago, the Ghana Health Service launched a program that would equip local CBAs (community-based agents) with the tools and knowledge necessary to use a RDT for malaria. To assess the success of the program, the Social Sciences unit has been sending field workers out to interview the various CBAs about their involvement in the program. On Monday, Evans and I headed to Bolgatanga to find the first few CBAs on a very long list. To our surprise, we were able to track down and interview 5 different CBAs. The interviews last about 30 minutes, and we ask about the CBA’s activity, their perceptions of malaria, and their thoughts and suggestions to improve the program. It was interesting to see what kinds of people had been chosen by their communities to serve as a CBA. It seemed that a person who had already had some sort of interest in health care, whether they were a chemical dispenser or a health volunteer, were taking more of an initiative in testing children in their communities. Some CBAs would see upward of 100 children in a year while others saw just ten. Despite involvement, all complained that there should be some sort of motivation/compensation, and it is difficult to move around if means are not provided. While we’re not interviewing, it is fun to learn about the Ghanaian culture from the people at the Center. While we were out one day, Evans wanted me to take a picture of him eating dog, but the man who was cooking it was adamant that I did not take a picture. His argument was that I was working for an NGO, and if I took a picture of him, I would go back to the States and sell it for hundreds of dollars. And he would never see a cent of it. Evans tried to reassure him that I was just a lowly university student, but he was getting angry, so we left. Five minutes later, a young boy came up to me with a quarter and asked me to exchange it for pesewas. Needless to say, the perceptions that (some) Ghanaians have of Americans were clearly outlined for me in those five minutes. Everyone I had been introduced to at the Center is always so welcoming and non-judgmental, but out in the field, people have no loyalties to you. They do not have to be polite, and they can be honest about how your presence makes them feel. I was not offended by the angry dog-cooking man, but I felt guilty that he felt that way.

Today, Thursday, I moved on to the Navrongo Demographic Surveillance System unit. George Wak is a great guy who promised to take Amy, Grace, and I to Tongo (his home town) to see the rock formations. He seemed really adamant that we meet our “companion”, a random American Peace Corp worker living in that area. He introduced me to the system, and I was able to head to the field with James and MY. We went to meet with the field workers and gather their registers. They have been covering plenty of ground in the last few days, recording all new demographic information in the Chania area. Since I have to be in the office at 7:30am tomorrow to head back out and sit in on interviews, I think I should end this blog here. I’ll be able to explain more about the NDSS process in the next entry.

Oh, and Grace and Amy brought home two puppies. We named the one with white hair Bernie (after Dr. Liese) and the one with brown hair Chuck Bass (for those who love Gossip Girl). Everyone has been having fun playing with the little baby pups, but I could do without all the poop in my apartment. Here's my bed and my pretty green mosquito net!

This is Ghana!! Here's a shot from the top of a rock at an old slave camp.
Mmmm...this is fufu. A ball of yam/casava/plantain in a peanut soup.

Lara <3>

I still have ten fingers and ten toes!!

My favorite picture of Amy, Grace, and I - sketched out in a taxi