Malaria - (+) one plus!

So I hadn't been feeling well for a while: tiredness, fever and decreased appetite I thought I had typical 'medical student-itis' I convinced myself I had Malaria. However, having spoken to some of the visitors to Ghana they said I would feel much sicker so put it out of my mind and put it down to the weather and the food, etc.

Steve then said that he had had Malaria 4 times in 6 months and the area we're in is particularly prone to resistance to some of the anti-malarials. So I got myself tested and 'I HAVE MALARIA 1 plus!'. Great isn't it I choose the most expensive anti-malarials Malarone, (nearly 80 squids of precious inheritance money) and still get the blasted disease. So I can put the not eating down to the awful taste you do get which makes you feel awful! ME not eating, like what is going on!!

I have also been presented with a 'kelte' which is a bit like a scarf and says 'Akedoo - well done Lucy Rapp'! It means I am an important person and recognised for my efforts and work during my time over there.

I have also been presented with millions of 'cell' mobile phone numbers and addresses of many Ghanians, I don't know how I'll keep in touch with everyone.

Ghana and more Ghana!

Day 18 - Wednesday 30th Jan 08

Here is a picture of the delivery suite......

I was working in the clinics and the Hospital yesterday - very busy as usual.

Left early and went to the Arts Centre (as it was closing up) which is a huge flea market type place where you can buy souvenirs, etc. I got a taxi with the nicest man (the taxi driver) called 'Bobby' who came in as my escort with me. I was very glad as people shout 'sister' at you and 'haven't we met before', and grab you and take you into their stalls and really pester you and don't leave you alone at all, unless you buy something!

Traffic there was fine, however, coming back was a nightmare! We're talking a few hours stuck in fumes! But the time passed quickly as Bobby was teaching me 'Ga' which is one of the dialects around Teshie, the area I am in. He also popped in to his home and I met his wife Rita and his beautiful daughter Grace (I think I was the first White person who had ever been to his house - so I was quite the novelty!) When I got back to the house I went in and got some fish that I had bought and not eaten to give to them - he was so grateful, and was explaining that his friend would store it in his fridge for him (the only man in his village/area to have a fridge).

When I got back I had missed a dinner the American's all went on to a local 5* hotel called 'La Palma', but no-one had remembered to actually tell me!

So I said my goodbyes to the American's as they left really early thursday morning, I have so many e-mail address and mobiles from Ghanian's let alone American's to contend with!

Anyways, way back in one of my posts about 2 weeks ago I mentioned about the names of the shops/stalls. Well I have been storing them up and think I have enough gems to share with you.

They are all named traditionally with Biblical references, however, the translations sometimes seem strange to me, see what you think, here are a few:

- Living God Beauty Salon

- Overflowing Grace Pharmacy
- Justice Drinking Bar
- Trust in God Cold Store

- By His Grace Fashion & Home Store

- Glory Oil Shop

- Clap for Jesus Shop

- By His Love, Grace and Mercy Business Store

- Have No Fear Take Away (I think this one is my favourite!)

Below are some pictures that I have tried to post a few times (hopfully they'll work this time!)

Some more pictures.........

One from the Island of Ada with two of the American's - a nurse practioner Melanie and Dr.Gene.

Me hard at work at one of the Mission's clinics, think its at Teshie-Mona, a week last Wednesday.

A huge thank you so much to everyone who has posted messages and made contact with me whilst I have been in Ghana. I have looked forward to them every day and they have made my days much brighter! So Thank you very much and another shout out to the best big sister and friend in the world and the best nephew!

p.s. has Sam met baby Thomas yet?

love to all Lucy x x x

I will be seeing you al soon!

Life At Manna Mission.

Day 16 - Tuesday 29th Jan 08

Back and full swing into the clinic at the Hospital today, from early till late.

I'm going to post some pictures of how life at Manna Mission Hospital really is......(computer permitting!)

To the left is part of one of the women's wards.

Here are some of the school children at the 'Manna Academy' walking home from school.

Lots of love

miss you all x x x

The Beach and The Island of Ada - Alorkpen.

Thankfully - just wrote a huge blog which I thought I'd lost again - but I think it worked - yeah!

Day 14 - Sunday 27th Jan. 08



Got up early again - am so looking forward to an un-interrupted night's sleep and a lie-in (at weekends anyway) when I get home!



Went to the service again at the Manna, because once you're invited its very rude to decline. Well, one of the American's, the head Pastor/preacher conducted the sermon! The ending of the service was something out of a comedy sketch, whereby people 'fainted' and fell to the floor once the Holy Spirit had been blessed upon them from the Pastor - very dramatic!



The American's after the service went ahead near to the island of Ada where the clinic tomorrow is.



Anyways, went into the Hospital for a bit and then I headed for my first visit to the beach!

It was great and I took some study with me. However, didn't get much done as people kept coming up to me every 5 minutes (probably because I was on my own) aking if they could be friends with me. I had a lovely little girl called Mavis who came and sat with me for hours, and a lady who wanted me to hold her baby and have a picture of me with the baby! I tell you, being in Ghana will be the closest I'll ever get to feeling like a celebrity!



As the American's are staying in a hotel tonight, the house is so quiet! Played cards and taught Becky how to play Backgammon and had some popcorn! I also didn't have to queue for about 3-4 hours just for a shower, it was bliss!





Day 15 - Monday 28th Jan. 08



Got up and drove with Steve (we broke down just once) and some of the staff from the Manna to the hotel where the American's stayed last night, 'Manet Holiday Hotel'. There is this little area where there are some quite large houses with yatcht's and hotels a million miles away from the the other extreme of those lives of some people from Ghana.



We loaded our equipment and ourselves into 2 narrow boats and headed to the island of Ada. It was quite a short boat journey and on the way we saw some people fishing in boats with nets and the beautiful unspoilt surroundings.



Arriving on the island the islanders all come and greet you especially the hundreds of children. They collected our things and carried them all for you. Some of the children were so funny and kept touching your skin, then laughing and running away to repeat the same thing over and over. The clinic was really hectic and busy, I hardly had a chance to look around.

Above is a photo of one of the houses and children. Infront of the houses you can just see that there are hundreds of the most gorgeous shells that have been placed like a collage into the sand.

Headed back after a few hours, but would have loved to have stayed longer.

Some of the American's got tickets for the Ghana football match against Morocco yesterday score 2-0, wish I could have gone with them, but they could only get hold of a few tickets, which caused a lot of controversy, as not all their group got to go!


Miss you all loads

Really looking forward to coming home - just a few more days now!


Love lucy x x x

Clinics with the Narcissitic Chief & the Schoolchildren! Crocodiles, Rope Bridges & Slavery!

I have not been able to post for a few days - for all those reading I'm sorry!

I'll try and make this a super-blog and write as much as I can and maybe add some pictures, if it works.....

Below is the picture I promised I'd post of me holding a baby 'African style' , I've just realised that I haven't actually posted any photo's of myself yet!

Where was I up to???

Day 11 - Thursday 24th Jan.08

Went to a place called 'Akbomen' which I was told is a typical African village, with houses/huts made out of mud which during the rainy season some of the walls get washed away and have to be re-built!

After we arrived we started setting up clinic again, the same as yesterday. However, before we commenced seeing patients had to respect the village Chieftain and present him with some gifts. We were told that he loves looking in buckets of water at his own reflection, so we gave him: a small hand-held mirror, a football for the village children and some chewing gum! He seemed very happy and he was the first patient to be seen. I had my photo taken with him and as its digital he loved that he could see the picture straight away!!

I made friend's with a lady called 'Rebekah' who held my hand and alike most of the Ghanian's exclaimed, 'You are Welcome, You Are Welcome!'. She showed me around the village and took me into her home and introduced me to her husband and said that this was my home too. I think she and some other people came to the clinic because she didn't want to miss out on the action. Saw some really good classical signs and pathology at the village and took some pictures, which I will bore the medics with on my return.

We finished earlier than expected, it was a much quieter turn out than yesterday so one of the leaders decided that we go to the 'Aburi Botanic Gardens'. It is created by the British and has some vegetation, some ylang-ylang, cinammon plants and some other big trees and stuff.

Another Ghana football match tonight (they won 2-1), so a very long drive home in the traffic again as everyone trying to get to a TV for the match.

Day 12 - Friday 25th Jan 08.

Went to a place called 'Afienaya' today, a few hours away from where I am in Accra. We set up clinic at the bottom of a school playground, and had a huge audience with all the children. I think every one of us got mobbed by children at one time or another.

Saw lots of patients again today.

The 'Mission' team I am with are American's mainly from Florida, and belong to a religious denomination called, 'The Assembly of God'. Well I don't think I've mentioned it so far, but as well as having the medical tables they also have an area whereby they pray for the patients. All I am going to say is that they are quite interesting in their methods which are very overt! I guess I'm not used to their beliefs and ways, they have the power of the Holy Spirit to heal, God talks to them through people on the TV and they speak in 'tongues' (basically unintelligible gobbly-gook!) hope I've not been too judgmental in my descriptions!

After the long journey back in the mini-buses, it was nice to catch up with Becky and Steve. They ended up going to the Ghana match on the Thursday and they said that the atmosphere was amazing.

Day 13 - Saturday 26th Jan. 08

I am very grateful for the American's who have come to do their 'Medical Mission' as I wouldn't be doing the things I am doing if it wasn't for them. Also, as they invited me to go with them today to go to 'Cape Coast'. We had to get up even earlier than we have been doing in the week - like before 5 o'clock! After a very long and hot bus journey, where the bus broke down twice (thats a good day!) we ended up at our destination, the 'Kakum National Park Rainforest'.

It was a beautiful hot day so we walked around and then arrived at the canopy walk, which is a collection of about 7 rope bridges, (which swayed from side-to-side quite a lot), suspended in the trees approx. 700 metre long!

It was great - don't know how I managed it, especially as I always managed to be behind the 'bigger' Americans who when they walked made the whole thing shake and made me hold on for my life!! We saw some butterflies, birds, monkies but sadly no elephants!

We stopped off for something to eat at a hotel/restaurant called 'Ron's Cottage'. It had a lake all around it and crocodiles. I made up for the lack of animals at the National Park and was even brave enough to have my picture taken with a Croc!! If you look close enough you can see the terror in my face and the beads of sweat!

After my escape from the croc's we drove onto 'Cape Coast Castle' which is a very famous area in history. It is where orginally a lot of trading took place and was known as 'Britain's Gold Coast', however, it is probably better known for its mass export of slaves before the slave trade was abolished. It was a really powerful place, you got to walk in the dungeon's where thousands of men and women were shackled together. There is also a famous area called, 'The Door of No Return' where a tunnel lead from the dungeon's/cells to where they were shipped to 'the Americas'. It is now a very busy fishing port. The area is beautiful and it was lovely to be beside the sea. We had to leave before our guided tour ended, it was a shame as I would have loved a bit of extra time to explore the area a bit more.

Worked out had been on the bus in total for around 8-9 hours today!! Although, we had fun on the way back the American's trying to copy my accent and them teaching me how to speak American! I'm going to be coming back speaking half African Ga and American and I'm going to be confusing everyone!

The Slums Near the Sea!

I'm still here - don't despair, just haven't been able to bully anyone into using a computer for the last 2 days. (Afraid no pictures today!)

Day 10 - Wednesday 23rd Jan 08

Went out with the 'Mission' Team to a place called 'Teshie-Mona', a slum area quite near to the sea (drove through it at the weekend). Played with the children and gave out toys and shoes to them. We set up tables for those consulting, we also had a pharmacy, a triage, a glasses/optician's table and a vitals table - all outside under canopies. News spread quickly and we started clinic. The queue just got longer and longer. To keep everyone in line (we only had so many medicines) we drew a number on their finger or thumb nail and gave them a piece of paper that corresponded.

It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life!

It was so busy and we were obviously treating just on symptoms and clinical signs. If we wanted to examine properly we used a bench behind a screen. We had children with terrible infections and adults with chronically raised high blood pressure to name but a few.
They had a formulary with them of the American drugs they brought out, so I'm going to be getting all confused when I'm in England and asking for 'Acetaminophen' instead of 'Paracetamol'!

When we stopped for something to eat - I felt so bad eating in front of them, and them all watching me - so gave some of my food away.

I didn't realise but the clinic had come to a close and people still kept coming to the tables, mine especially. People brought their children to me and said 'I'm begging you, I'm begging you'. I couldn't say no. We then handed out bags of paracetamol and ibuprofen out like they were sweets.

Went back to the Hospital and popped into the Hospital, a lady was 6cm dilated and another due for a C-section. So scrubbed up and went into theatre. The lady had a beautiful baby girl. However, as my first time in theatre over here it was quite an experience! The lights weren't working properly (it was now evening and dark) and the doctors were laughing and joking like you wouldn't believe and answering their mobile phones. The lady who delievered had the hugest fibroids, which I obviously got to hold when they stitched her back up. They brought her husband into theatre (and bearing in mind the women was conscious) they were joking with him about not having sex with her or tying up her tubes. The husband nearly leaned over and touched her fibroid uterus, which was quite funny! At least they got his consent, I guess. Went to the delivery room and had just missed the other lady by a few seconds, she had a beautiful baby boy.

By this time - absolutely shattered! So headed back to the house and had something to eat and a shower eventually! Showering in the dark (apart from a flashing strip light) due to the electricity overload. I also hung my trusty torch up. Felt like I was in cheap budget horror film!


Thursday (yesterday) went to a clinic in a village which was fun - will have to tell you all about it when I next get to a computer - which could be after the weekend!

Have to go now as the lady wants to lock up and is afraid he boyfriend's going to 'bounce' her (i.e. dump her) if she's late.

Love lucy x

miss you all

An Orphanage, a market, coffins and the American's!

Day 9 - Tuesday 22nd Jan. 2008

I was woken up to my door been knocked on, with one of the adminstrator's and some men coming to collect (and in the process) dismantle a pair of bunk beds that were in my room. All for the 'Mission' team - the American's, you would think there was going to be a royal arrival or something, they have tidied up more are cleared stuff from the corridors in their honour.

Teshie Orphanage

I had organised prior with the hospital a visit to the orphanage quite near to the Hospital. However, when enquiring about a taxi from outside the hospital I got confued with the money (Ghana has cedi pronounced 'seedy') the notes and peswas (the coins), however, the monetary system changed over last year and the guy was still quoting me on the old money and I thought he was ripping me off, so I decided to walk some of the way there. So started walking and quickly made friends and a lady called Alice looked after me and got me to the right place - bless her.

What a waste of time though!! The visit had been pre-arranged, however, the 'Madame' wasn't expecting me and there was only one little boy there because all the rest were in school! Silly me! Anyways, I may visit at the weekend or when they come back from school one evening.

A Market

As I was really clever and didn't have my guide book and maps with me (a little lost on the direction front) I ended up in a taxi not heading towards the Hospital but the city centre, Accra.

I was sharing a taxi with a few other people and I was dropped off by the main market with them. Well, as you can see from the picture on the left, one can only describe it as manic and of the busiest places I have ever been in.

Can you also see the lady at the bottom left of the picture carrying stuff, I think its tables on her head?! Thats how all the African ladies carry stuff - its amazing, I have some great pictures of women carrying, for example, a plate of fish, to a sewing machine all on their heads, but not at the same time!!

Wandered round I decided the place I knew was 'Osu' (where I had had the Burger and chips) a suburb of the city, so a nice man called Charles took me to the 'tro-tro's'. They are like mini-buses with as many people packed in as possible and it cost the equivalent of about 12 pence! Once there I picked up a bit of food and did a bit of souvenir shopping. I then got another 'tro-tro' to the 'First Junction', which is a junction off the main - Beach Road, which is close to the hospital. they have no road signs so you have to do a lot by memory, or rely on the very good nature of the Ghanaian's. They are all so friendly and helpful.

Coffins

Just by the 'First Junction' they have a shop where they craft coffins/caskets, (or trunks as they call them). They are amazing and I think quite famous the world over. As you can see they are made to what sort of trade the person who passed was in. I saw: boats, fishes, cockerel's, car's and a family picking up a coffin in the shape of a biro pen!

They should do something like that in England, it would certainly lighten up a funeral when the coffin was brought into a Church and it was shaped into an animal, such as a tiger! I'm still trying to decide what I'd like my ideal one to be??

Probably an ELEPHANT!!

The American's

When I got back I had some lunch and headed into the Hospital.

I gave some of the balloons and colouring pencils I brought out with me to some of the children on the children's ward and saw some patients.

Went back to the house and met the American's! There are 20 of them in total in all shapes and sizes! There is a family of 6 (who have 4 girls ranging from 18-8), their grandparents, a few nurses, a Doctor who studied with Dr.Seth the creator of Manna Mission, and some men.

I felt like I was in the Big Brother house and still haven't got to grips with all their names.

With them all in the house, the queue for the shower last night was a joke, it took me over an hour to get one. Also, the electricty is being overloaded and the lights and fridges are all going on the blink! Patience and a torch are definitely neccessities over here.

It looks like I will be helping them with their 'missions'. They have about 9 huge suitcases full of medicines and we will be going out to the poorer areas and running free clinics. They were all counting up and measuring quanties of the drugs into however many days worth of clinics. I've been told it will be a real eye opener..........