Experiences: Clinic Projects

Projects > Africa > Ghana > AMURT Clinics

Mila Campbell volunteered at Seva Clinic for 3 months in late 2006

I honestly did not know what to expect when I arrived in Ghana in August of 2006 to volunteer as a nurse at the Mafi-Seva Community Clinic. I had 3 months dedicated to be there and was nervous with anticipation and excited for what the 3 months had in store for me. Well now looking back it was more than I expected and probably one of the best experiences of my life.

To paint a picture of life there is easy. Life begins early as people awake to sunrise. There are many chores to be done in the village and clinic in the mornings so people rouse early with the roosters and are busy sweeping the yards, fetching water and fire wood, pounding fufu or heading for farm. I slept outside in a mosquito net/tent for most of the time I was there which was fantastic. You could fall asleep looking up at the stars and hear the sounds of drumming in nearby villages and wake up in the morning to the mist that lay over the cassava fields and to the sound of the village waking up. Breakfast was always my favorite meal with all sorts of fruits, depending on the season, but always plenty of pineapple, papaya, bananas, avocado, mangoes, and coconuts! Food being delicious either eating the local dishes of okra or ground nut stew and banku, kenkey or fufu, or enjoy yams, plantain, beans, a pasta dish or rice.

In my experience most patients come early in the morning. The amount of patients seen is very unpredictable. Some days you are busy all morning, all day and evening, and others you see only a handful of people the whole day. Both scenarios are welcoming as its enjoyable working in a busy clinic and equally as enjoyable to relax when there are no patients and sit under the neem tree with a good book. Or, if you prefer sit and chat with Emperor, Bernice, Elizabeth, Diana (the health workers) and other villagers under the shade of the trees in front of the clinic and watch African village life unfold around you. Maybe even pick up some new words and phrases in the Ewe language that will keep you and everyone laughing and which will really help you adjust to life there or maybe hear one of the many hilarious stories Emperor or Dada have to share about life in the village.

The clinic sees all types of medical cases you could imagine but some of the more common include: treatment of fevers, diarrhea and/or vomiting, malaria, pregnancies (antenatal, deliveries and postnatal care), first aid (cuts, suturing etc), wound care with cleaning of wounds and dressing changes and many more. Also since the staffs at the clinic are not formally trained so expect to do some staff training, as little or as much as your find necessary. Although it is quite necessary and there are many things they can continue learning, repeating things other volunteers have taught and introducing new skills to them that new volunteers have to offer (even basics such as hand washing, wound care, use of medications, assessments etc).

As much as volunteers have to offer remember to keep an open mind with how much you can learn from the health workers and their culture. I learned about local treatments, local customs and the local views on health, illness, birth and death. As a nurse, my skills were stretched to the limit which was both very challenging and scary at times but always rewarding and lots of fun! I looked forward to climbing into the clinic truck to drive to various communities doing health education, following up with past patients, bringing women in active labor to the clinic to deliver, going along with Dada and Emperor to visit the water project or just visiting with people. Getting stuck in the mud or sand always a chance but always an experience. I was surrounded by the most generous, welcoming and wonderful people in the village and it really made the experience for me there special.

I was also lucky to visit the AMURT project in Deou up in the isolated northern area of Burkina Faso in the Oudalan Province. I visited this exotic location and was able to see the incredible culture that thrives there. This area is truly backwards in time with most of the villages and tribes living far from civilization. We were able to visit during the last few days of a training program aimed at TBA’s (traditional birth attendants) or AV’ s - Les Achouchesses villagoise. I accompanied Dada Daneshananda and Midwife Suniiti Crowther as she provided 3 days of workshops to 30 of the AV’s from the surrounding villages. We were able to also visit several of the AV’s in these isolated villages which was a wonderful view into the life and culture of these incredible women. The villages are scattered around the Sahel terrain, with camels feeding, donkey carts finding their way from far villages to the bustling and exotic Deou market each week. It was really an unforgettable experience for me.

I honestly cannot put into words all of the experiences I had while there. I probably experience every emotion possible and learned way more than I expected. I was challenged as a nurse and the experience made me more human. Every volunteer and every visitor takes away their own experiences, they find whatever they are looking for and take away more than they expect, culturally, emotionally and spiritually. I love Africa and I know I will be back soon. I hope that other volunteers can create their own fond memories that will stay with them their entire lives and contribute their own expertise in helping and assisting the wonderful people that call Ghana their home.