The end

My last week in Ghana I spent at the Margret Marquart Hospital where I was treated for cellulitis. At the funeral the shoe hurt my leg and this small wound got infected. Kpando hospital is a nice place and the medical staff is very well trained. Eventually the symptoms subsided and I was discharged from the hospital. The journey from Have to Accra by tro tro was not very comfortable, there was a litlle room to stretch my leg. At the OSDA house we had a small farewell dinner, my last fufu for a long time. During my time in Ghana the members of OSDA became my second family and they helped me to integrate into the community and understand the local culture and customs. Thanks to both organizations OSDA and EYCB I was able make a contribution to the development programme in Volta region. Volunteering at the Have Health Centre enabled me to use my pharmacist education and help medical staff to ease some of the everyday tension. While I was dispensing and counselling the patients they could focus more on the diagnosis and administration tasks. I truly believe that sending volunteers to this region has a great impact to the health care and education systems. Even one volunteer can make a big difference because the extra help is always needed. There is still a lot work to do but I believe that thanks to the help and support of organizations such as OSDA and EYCB Africa is on a good way for a better future and improvement.

Kpando Hospital, where I was admitted a week before I left Ghana. Bad timing...

Crutches are not available, so I used walker instead. 

In Ghana during harmattan season (starts at the beginning of December) the air is very dry and the skin becomes more sensitive. The wounds tend to heal longer. It is not a best time to get injured as I experienced myself.

My Ghanaian family. From the left: Brown, Bright, Sarah, me, John and OSDA president Manfred.

Last days in Ghana

As my time in Ghana was about to end, me and other OSDA volunteers were invited to attend the burial, memorial and thanksgiving service for Michael Kwami Doh, the older brother of OSDA president. The funeral took place in Agbesia and the service lasted for three days. Funerals in Ghana are comparable to weddings in Europe. It is a major event and the everyday life in village is disrupted by the preparations, the arrival of many visitors and the expectations. People stay up all night, dancing, singing and celebrating the memory of deceased person. There is plenty of food and drinks too. Last day is reserved for the church service and prayers.

                                      
OSDA volunteers in Agbesia. We were all wearing dresses made from the same material. If the deceased person is young (less than 50), there should be red pattern on the cloth. For older person funeral people wear dresses with white pattern on it.

 I was chosen to read Tribute from the Mother at the burial service.

The village chiefs were also present.

 Michael Kwami Doh worked as a Police Constable and therefore many policemen attended the funeral. 

During the feast we ate plenty of African food like fufu, banku, kinkey. Cow was brought from Accra (4 hours journey) in a taxi while it was still alive.They killed the poor beast just before the ceremony. 

      
From left: Aaron aka Fafa and Daniel aka Kwami Koko resting after the meal.

At the funeral we visited family members to pay our condolences. Michael Kwami Doh had two wifes and three children.