Fun things in Ghana...Misc

Each country that i have visited have unique cultural icons that provide me a glimpse of what is important to the population...well at least to some businesses and what they want to sell... 

FInally, there is a picture of "fufu", one of the national dishes. They made it for us for the last meal (along with one of the other volunteer's dad who was visiting from England). It is made from plantain and pounded until it is a gelatinous mass (very filling) and then soaked in fish broth along with a nice tilapia fish head. Just an interesting observation about fufu...  we left cake on the counter one night and it was covered with a mound of red ants but the fufu that was left overnight was untouched!

Tuesday and Wednesday travel

Left Accra on Tuesday night. Excellent airport.
Arrived NYC at 7am, dumped bags at LOuise's and walked to Ground Zero memorial park. Very inspiring architectural.

The fountain that was built inside each of the twin towers foundation was well done. Reading the names i was struck by the fact that many of those who died had either mexican, east european or middle eastern names.

Got on plane for Portland Wednesday and got in late.

MOnday 10/10

Visited Dansomon Government clinic which was west of Accra. we met wiht the administrator, finance officer and head of nursing. This clinic was so different than our clinic. Very old and poorly maintained physically..waiting room, prenatal classes are all open to the weather. Many people waiting politely. Head nurse was so open and positive about what she and her staff are doing. I wanted to ship lots of supplies there.

They also hold prenatal and family planning classes, have counseling for TB, HIV and report metrics for followup and patient results to the MInister of Health, wound care nurse aide, immunization and the worst medical record processing. but again everyone is so polite and friendly.

2nd Weekend

On Saturday morning for the north country and the town of Kpong with the largest bead market in West Africa. ( found out late Saturday that government doctors were going on strike today- perhaps should have stayed). Stopped at Accra Mall ( didn't expect it too look like one of our malls! for sally's Mac charger).

As we got more north, the topology became more green undulating hills with small villages (with 5 houses). it was slow since the roads were very bad. At the market, the cacaphony of human movement and commerce was overwhelming but envigorating. Again, people very polite & friendly, noone begging but lots calling "white person" to catch our attention to their stall.

The market was the size of downtime with stalls full of food, clothes, miscellaneous, and of course beads.. they were beautiful...i wish i  had bought more..

Sunday morning, drove south to Aburi Botanical Gardens. This was created by the British in teh 1800's. There is very little maintenance and the garden was very poorly represented. We walked around and left after 30 minutes. Stopped for lunch at Hillburi Resort for the "stressed out" Ghanaians who work in Accra. it was a beautiful location.
I took a picture of competing telecom companies who pay people to paint their houses wiht the telecom's logo

Finally got to Koforidua, our hotel for the night. we just called along the way and i gave my name.. that was all to hold a reservation. Lovely hotel, mostly for business travelers so it was very efficient.  We had dinner with Paul, our host, by the pool and then watched CNN.

THursday and Friday

Worked in the clinic Thursday. Met with the administrator, medical records, pharmacy and Victoria, the midwife. Outpatient department processing and inpatient.

Friday morning, worked wiht Abigail and Harriet to visit TB patients in teh neighborhood. Met with their manager, Theresa, who was so inspiring because she was very aggressive about expanding health services to more of the neighborhood.

On Friday afternoon, Doris took us to the Makola Fabric market. I was so packed with people, yet everyone was so polite and friendly. It felt like the sidewalk markets in NYC. We walked so much to find the fabric for Sally's daughter and then of course bought some for ourselves.. will we really sew all of the items that we talked about?

WEd afternoon with Doris

WEd afternoon late lunch with Doris ( Madame of the clinic or co-administrator) and her son. We left the clinic around 1pm and got to lunch at 3pm ( bad roads and lots of traffic- everyone expects it). Lunch buffet at Holiday Inn near airport. Doris's son is so tall and handsome with lovely wife and 2 beautiful children. All of her children went college and work in services.

When we left, we brought her niece with us who is a housekeeping manager at the Inn. We visited wiht Doris's daughter who left teaching to start her own business teaching young girls to decorate cakes and create floral arrangements because she "likes to play with sugar". She decorated a cake for us! FInally got back to the house around 6pm.. Had a beer on the porch and went to bed