Cholera Project

We got another project approved today.  It is to help an organization that is working in a very poor area of Accra where Cholera is a problem the past several weeks.  They have some 3 volunteers from European countries and one person from their organization who have been going door to door teaching hygiene and telling people what they need to do to avoid getting cholera.   They will also organize some clean-up days in the communities.  We will supply shovels, gloves, boots, wheelbarrows, and dustbins for them to use.  

We went to the area and it is so filthy.  The gutters are full of standing water and garbage.  The gutters are used as toilet by many.  There are no toilets at most of their houses but there are public toilets and bath houses but they must pay to use them.  Most of them don't have the money so they use the gutters and the nearby ocean beach.   So sad!  

This organization also runs a small school (about 165 students) but they don't all come every day.  They are poor children who would not otherwise go to school.  Part of this project is to give them some exercise books for the school.  We were really impressed with what they are doing to help the children there.  

When we see these kinds of things we are so very grateful for where and how we were raised.  We just can't even begin to appreciate it enough. 

Last week we went to a Clinic where we did a hand over ceremony.  We gave the clinic solar panels.  They often have no electricity and many babies are delivered at night in the dark or with the night guard holding the torch (flashlight).  They are so thrilled with their new source of electricity.    The lady that is in charge at the clinic is doing a great job.  They presented Elder Bullock with an African shirt and gave me a kente scarf and we each got some glass bead bracelets.  These gifts were all very traditional things made in Ghana.  

We have had short term water specialists here in September and now have some water projects being developed.  E/S Panter and E/S Dever are pretty much doing those. 

We also had wheelchair specialists here in September doing training for those here that will fit the chairs to the individuals and those technicians that will assemble and make the chairs fit each person.  We gave about 325 wheelchairs (5 different styles) to the Ghana Health Authority.  They will distribute them and report back.  Different hospitals and clinics will get 15 chairs each to start with and when they give them out and return with good reports they can get more.   There is a huge need for wheelchairs here.   Polio and other diseases have left many crippled.  We see some terrible handicaps on a regular basis. 

Anyway........enough for now.  I am ready for bed and it is only 8:30.  We get up at about 5 a.m. each day and Jim walks and I swim for about an hour.  It is a good way to start the day but I do go to bed early or I don't want to get up.

Love to all.   Nancy