Malaria or typhoid and horse-pills, oh my!
(University of Minnesota public health students are writing about their experiences abroad this summer.)
By Ele Scherman
Environmental Health Sciences
Writing from Ghana
Hey everyone, Not to alarm anyone with the subject heading but my most recent and significant experience in Ghana is falling sick...again. I have made a full recovery, so not to worry!! I went to the hospital in Accra on Sunday because I was running a very high fever and feeling really lousy. My doctor thought I had either malaria or typhoid fever and because it was later in the day and I had to still travel a couple hours to get home, neither of us thought it necessary to wait for the tests to confirm one or the other. Now I feel I have really experienced life in Ghana! (Oh, and pills here that I've had to take thus far, are really big).
Fortunately, I only missed a couple days of work, which has been keeping me very busy of late. Last week I finished recruiting students from the junior and senior high schools for the youth educator program I started. It took quite a while to do because I had to get around to all the schools for the times teachers requested with me. It was a great way to explore parts of town that I had never been to as well as to learn about the education system here.
One of my favorite visits was to a junior high on the morning of their weekly devotions. All of the students gather to have worship time (almost all of the schools are sponsored by a particular christian denomination) and bring their offerings, all of which is usually done to the tune of drumming and singing. As I approached the building, all I could hear was the amazing sounds of the music. All of the students (about 150 of them) were gathered in one room, one student was on the drums and another with a bell. The rest were sing and clapping loudly. As I entered the room and they took notice of me, the music, clapping, and drumming all increased in volume. I joined in with the festivities, they really went wild after that! It was such a privilege to be able to have the experience and on top of that, to be so welcomed! Everywhere I go and everything I do, Ghanaians are so happy to see me and help me. I don't know if there is anywhere else in the world that is so hospitable as it is here.
I began the program with the students last week as well. I've been holding 3 separate sessions twice a week; one for each of the 2 high schools and one combined group for the junior high schools. So far, I've been really impressed with how eager the students are to learn and participate. I wish that I had more time here to continue meeting with them! I've also been slowly working on getting through conducting the surveys with the local food vendors. Because of the language barrier that exists here i.e. many people not being proficient in English, the sanitation officers translate my questions into the native language, Twi, then translate the answers back to me to record. Needless to say, it has been a laborious, but very interesting process!
I can't believe that I only have 10 days left here, it has gone by so quickly! Overall, my experience here has been incredibly worthwhile and enjoyable. Hopefully, I'll be able to send one more message before my departure for London where I'll meet up with my parents for one week. I'll be home on August 15th.
I hope you all continue to enjoy what I hear has been a sweltering and dry Minnesota summer. We'll see if it rivals the climate here in Ghana ;)
Peace to you all,
Ele