Stories of Hope

Prampram, Ghana

For the past two years, Adopt A Village (AAV) has “adopted” and visited the coastal community of Prampram, not too far from the vibrant capital of Ghana. The Prampram Traditional Area is a fishing community composed of eight villages served by a couple of area hospitals. However, the actual village of Prampram with its 8,000 residents is medically served by only four nurses and two midwives with no doctor available. These meager resources are available to treat general, emergency and prevailing medical conditions such as Malaria, waist and neck pain (from improper lifting and carrying of wares), hypertension, HIV/AIDS and issues related to reproductive and maternal child health.

Since December, 2007, nearly 2,000 patients have been treated by AAV staff.  Our services, medications and supplies impact over 20,000 residents. The financial value of these resources is well over $250,000.

With each visit AAV undertakes a variety of health activities to help ease the medical pressure on the minimal staff. These activities include general health clinics, HIV, diabetes and hypertension screenings, and training and information sharing with health center staff.

All these achievements are made possible with the help of a diverse group of people, including medical professionals from the U.S. and Ghana who volunteer their time, talent and resources; MAP International for essential medicines; Medshare International for equipment and supplies; and the indigenous community, including the Prampram Traditional Council. Our partnership with Morehouse School of Medicine forms an integral part of the program in Prampram. The school provides clinical support and contributes to the program’s development through donations of vital medical equipment to furnish the new health center. Further development and expansion to the program will include medical and MPH student rotations to support clinical care and community health development.

Like most rural areas in the developing world, Prampram has inadequate technology to support its medical facilities. AAV is working to provide a telemedicine solution that transcends physical barriers of numbers and distance to offer consultation and case evaluations, manage patient information, and respond to medical emergencies. The telemedicine network also offers computer-based training and the sharing of research and teaching materials.

Adopt A Village continues to coordinate the collection and shipment of medical equipment, supplies, computers and other resources to the community of Prampram. Our fund raising efforts go on as we continue to provide the community with vital resources for quality healthcare.