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

Ghana Life

You are probably wondering if we are still alive.  I have been neglecting writing emails for a while.  I suppose it is partly due to the fact that I am having a hard time feeling motivated these days or also because we have had some busy weeks and when we get home in the evenings I just want to veg.  

We generally leave the office about 5 - 5:30 and fight traffic for the 7 km. drive to the apartment.  Usually it takes at least 30 minutes but usually longer;  I think the longest was 2 1/2 hours.  We just never really know what to expect each morning and night as we head out into the traffic.  There is no rhyme or reason to it.   The drivers are 'crazy' - no manners, whatsoever.  If you leave an inch they will squeeze in and cut you off without any warning.   I refuse to drive here but Jim can get in there and fight for the space like the best of them here!!   We don't see road rage though -- everyone just drives like idiots and they all seem to accept that.  On top of the cars being driven this way, we then have the motorcycles, who have absolutely not rules.  They drive between the lanes, on the sidewalks, the wrong way, through red lights and pretty much any way they want.    AND then there are street vendors selling their wares between the lanes as you drive along.  You can buy almost anything you want.  

We do buy bananas regularly on the road.  An onery policeman decided Jim was under arrest one day for obstructing traffic while buying bananas.  We didn't obstruct any traffic.  He took Jim's license and so Jim pulled over and got out and had a discussion with him.  He finally relented and gave back the license and Jim didn't even pay him a bribe. 

Jim got the cast taken off his arm last night.  It's been 4 weeks but Dr. Hill figured it should be okay.  He may still put a support on it if needed and if he can find one here.  It is nice to have it off.   Everyone he ran into here, whether we know them or not, would ask what happened to his arm and then they would say, "Oh, sorry, sorry".    People here always want to carry our things for us and with his broken arm it was even more so. 

Ebola has not come to Ghana yet and hopefully won't.  We do hear all the news about it.  We get a Podcast on our I-pads for NBC Nightly News from NYC and usually get BBC on the TV here.  It is a terrible disease.  We are glad that the world has gotten involved and are trying to help put a stop to it.    The Church has given bleach, buckets, rice and oil to members in Liberia and Sierra Leone and will likely be doing more of the same shortly.  Things are not good there.   We also have a project request  to supply some hygiene kit and newborn baby kit items for a clinic in S. Leone. 

Later.....   I am excited because we got a project approved this afternoon.  It is for a group who have a mobile clinic that go out into the rural areas to help women and girls.  They will do some cancer screening and other things.  They have 4 doctors who are volunteering their days to go out with them and also the nurses from the District clinics will help out.  We will supply some needed medications and supplies and food for the volunteers.    The first day out will be Thursday and we are going with them.     When I called to tell them that the project was approved they were SO excited and grateful.   Then I ask if Bernice could come with us on Thursday and bring some of the 'Days For Girls' kits to give out.  They were thrilled about that.   Bernice is in charge of the Days For Girls here in Ghana and is doing a wonderful job.   If you want, you can look up the organization on-line.  They make washable sanitary pads for girls.  Many girls here do not go to school or leave their house when they are having their periods each month because they don't have any supplies.    If you live in Utah Valley area, many women and girls are helping to make these to send to different parts of the world. 

All is well here.  We are coming up to our 1 year mark in a couple of weeks.  The time is going faster now.  It seems like that happens each time as we get busy and know more about what we are doing here.

We have used up our 2014 budget for area initiatives so now we just need to get them all done and have hand-over ceremonies.    Our budget was $550,000 for the West Africa area.  Next year it is $750,000.  We will be busy looking at more projects for next year. 

We'd love to hear from you. 

Jim and Nancy