We began our final day at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi. As we walked inside, we were greeted by children and adults of all ages who had come to see the talented Kumasi Cleft Palate Team for pre- and post-surgical consultation. The faces of tiny babies as young as two- months stared back at us from colorful cocoons on their mothers’ backs as we smiled and stroked their beautiful faces. Once in the clinic, we assessed the speech and language of children with repaired and non-repaired cleft lips and/or palates and provided recommendations. However, the highlight of the morning was the time we spent demonstrating safe feeding techniques to mothers of babies with non-repaired cleft palates.
Author: Janine
Ghana January 2014: Learning and exploring with colleagues and students in Effiduase
Today we spent the morning at Effiduase School, a unit school in which Belinda works. TC has been working with Belinda, a teacher of students with disabilities, for the past 7 years. Her class was comprised of 45 students ranging from age 3 to 22, all with a range of disabilities. We were all beaming as we walked into Belinda’s classroom. All of the supplies that TC has donated over the years were seen throughout the classroom and were being utilized! The opportunity that we were given to co-teach with Belinda was an invigorating experience–the students remained engaged throughout the lessons, and were excited to learn. We were all in awe of Belinda’s expertise as a teacher.
We also went to the local market with the students. There, they showed us how they use their AAC market cards to buy goods. It was amazing to see the market women recognize and engage with the students in an extremely friendly manner.
After we left Effiduase, we added to our cultural experience by watching traditional kente cloth weaving, natural ink extraction, and wood carving. We also stumbled a upon a traditional Muslim funeral which we couldn’t pass up. Funerals in Ghana tend to be a large celebration open to the public, and an all day event! We were warmly welcomed and included, and we were even asked to dance a traditional Ashanti dance in front of the everyone there.
Later in the evening, Belinda came and spoke to our class about the challenges she has faced while pursuing a career in special education in Ghana, and the process of starting a unit school in this community. Belinda’s dedication to her students and to the field of special education has improved the the lives of many despite the prevalent cultural taboos that still exist in Ghana.
Thanks to Katie Mosher for the post.
Ghana January 2014: Lessons in Kumasi: Komfo Anokye Hospital
We awoke bright and early this morning to our beautiful new digs in Kumasi. After breakfast, we boarded the bus to start our day at Komfo Anoyke hospital. It was a busy morning of introductions, and more assessments similar to those at Korle Bu. We saw kids with hearing loss, cerebral palsy, Waardenburg syndrome, and stuttering. For most of us, it was our first exposure to Waardenburg syndrome, which served as a particularly interesting case to assess and analyze.
Once our work at the hospital was complete, we grabbed a quick lunch to fuel ourselves for more market shopping. In the very back of the market was a painter who had no functional use of his arms and had to use his mouth to paint. He demonstrated his talent to us as we flipped through and purchased his pieces. Needless to say, they were all unbelievably stunning. However, that wasn’t the only craft shop that stood out to most of us. There was a father and son who owned a woodworking shop with gorgeous handcrafted pieces. They even went so far as to carve it in front of you to make sure it’s exactly what you want.
The night ended with a class discussion about the work we are doing and suggestions for next years trips.
Thanks to Jenn Stanis for the post.
Ghana January 2014: Facilitating educational opportunity in a new way
Today we went back to Larabanga to see Faruk and his family. We were excited to tell them that we had raised enough money to finance Cynthia’s schooling for the next year so she could go back to her old school in Damango. This school is much better than the one in her village and would give her a better chance at getting into a government high school. We brought Cynthia to Damango with us where we were able to speak with the headmaster of her school and inquire about her returning. The headmaster gave his consent for her to start classes again so we happily began helping Cynthia buy supplies and material for a new uniform so she would be ready. Since Cynthia would not be able to travel from her village to the school every day, we helped set up room and board with a family member who lives in Damango. We also visited the Catholic Church where some of the women played traditional music for us and Cynthia was reunited with her school friends. It was incredibly emotional and we are hopeful she will keep in touch by using her new cell phone. We have much hope for Cynthia, Faruk and their mother for many reasons now.
After Larabanga, it was back on the bus for another “African massage” and many, many hours traveling south to Kumasi where we will be working for the next three days. To pass the long hours, we laid down some tracks for the TC beats. Get excited to hear them at home!
Thanks to Galadriel Sevener for the post.
Ghana January 2014: Following up with Faruk and family
We all expected a simple happy story when we arrived in Larabanga to meet Faruk and his family. However, we witnessed the social and financial impact that cleft lip and palate has on families in developing nations all over the world. Faruk’s father rejected him and his mother shortly after his birth. The father, his family and many members of the Larabanga community labeled Faruk and his mother as cursed. Although the community gradually started to accept Faruk and his mother after the repair, they still were living off alms.
Ghana January 2014: More to see and learn: Mole and Larabanga
Today we drove from Tamale to Mole on the bus while enjoying an “African massage” from the unpaved, bumpy roads. Along the way we stopped to see a traditional village. The village consisted of several families living in mud huts. Unlike cities such as Accra where it’s more common to have fewer children, men in this area would have multiple wives, and up to 20 children. We met the elders of the village, and were introduced to a chief from the surrounding village who’s daughter had a physical disability. The chief explained that the family treats the child just like all their other children, and Jenna spoke on behalf of the group to agree with this approach, and to share how we try to accept children with disabilities in the US.
Ghana January 2014: Welcomed to Tamale by students and teachers
Our day started dark and early at around 4am. We headed to the airport at Accra to catch our flight to Tamale. When we arrived we were all pleasantly surprised that we had escaped the humidity that we had been growing accustomed to in Accra. Unlike other regions we have visited on the trip so far, Tamale is more like what we expected Ghana to be like. We saw dry desert lands with scarce vegetation. According to George, it is common to see wild life in this more northern region of Ghana.
Ghana January 2014: Fourth and Final Day at Korle Bu
Today was our final day at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. We spent the morning providing outpatient speech and language therapy to patients who ranged in age and diagnosis, from adult stroke patients to young children with hearing loss, and everything in between! We are grateful to have had the opportunity to work with and learn from the Speech and Language Therapy team at Korle Bu, especially Dr. Albert Osei-Bagyina (the first Speech Language Therapist in Ghana), Josephine, Nana Akua, and Clement.
