Gwag Community News

Ghanaian Women’s Association of Georgia

COMMUNITY NEWS Maternity Ward Edition December 2016 | www.ghanawomen.org

WHAT’S INSIDE: 

Spotlight Feature

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Pictures

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Interviews

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Updates

YOU MADE A DIFFERENCE!

O

n September 13, 2016, we commissioned our adopted maternity ward at the Elmina Urban Health Center in Ghana. This initiative aligned with our goal to better the maternity experience in Ghana, one ward at a time.

Our journey begun with President's Message the harrowing story of Monica; a woman in labor who was earlier turned away from the hospital due to lack of beds. After delivering her baby at home and suffering complications, she was rushed back to the hospital in a taxi. I witnessed how she fainted on the concrete floor after taking a few weak steps out of the taxi, with her sister cradling the newborn helplessly looking on. With no emergency response team on site, it took a passer-by to literally scoop Monica off the floor, back onto her feet, and guided up a flight of stairs to the second floor makeshift ward where she received medical attention.

Monica’s ordeal was one that moved members of GWAG to do our bit to help improve maternity care in Ghana – a country that has one of the highest infant and maternal mortality rates in Africa. After a very successful 4-month long fundraising campaign, we were able to secure the funds for this project. We could not have done it without your support.

In the grand scheme of things, what we have accomplished may seem ordinary, so, let me share with you exactly what your support means to the communities we serve and to us. Because of your donation: 

We procured and shipped hospital beds to furnish the newly refurbished ward at the Elmina Urban Health Center thereby increasing their capacity by at least 300%

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Pregnant women from villages farther away are now coming to the hospital for care and delivery because the ward is now operating at full capacity

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Pre-term babies now have an increased chance of survival by having access to incubators

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Clinical staff are better able to diagnose lifethreatening conditions during pre-natal care with the use of ultrasound machines

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Morale of the clinical staff has been greatly boosted and they are much more motivated to provide quality care in an improved work environment

Additionally, Korle-bu Teaching Hospital, Yendi Municipal Hospital, and Oda Government Hospital, have received beds, wheelchairs, stretchers, and pallets of gloves, IV, respiratory care, wound care, and other vital medical consumables, which now enables them to spend their limited funds in other areas.

We embarked on this project with nothing more than a passion and a commitment to make a difference.

The uncertainty of whether our zeal would match our ability to raise the funds to accomplish this task loomed heavily throughout. But because you believed in the cause, responded to our persistent appeals for assistance, and gave, our collective efforts have produced the transformation we see in this magazine.

Maternity Ward Adoption is an initiative that GWAG plans to replicate across other parts of Ghana to make long-lasting and impactful changes. We hope you will continue to be an active member of our community to help us accomplish this mission. We are grateful for how you have already helped us make such a difference! So, on behalf of our members, I say, thank you for being part of this change! Thank you for sharing in our vision of transforming this ward and giving so generously to make that vision a reality. This is how you helped change Monica’s story for the better! May God richly bless and replenish you!

Agnes Hayfron Barnor President, Ghanaian Women’s Association of Georgia

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About GWAG Headquartered in Atlanta, the Ghanaian Women's Association of Georgia (GWAG) is a 501(c)(3) organization that promotes entrepreneurship for minority women in Georgia, and empowers women in underserved communities in Ghana by supporting initiatives in healthcare and education that create a positive social impact. We share the belief that when a woman is empowered, she invests her knowledge and resources in her children, family and eventually, her community. Drawing strength from our talents, skills, resources, and diversity, we seek to establish a thriving, engaged and visible Ghanaian community in Georgia while providing a platform for engaging in activities geared towards sustaining personal, professional, and community development.

Mission Statement GWAG’s mission is to help alleviate the suffering of women and children in under-served communities in Ghana by mobilizing and deploying resources in an effort to promote sustainable development.

Vision To implement sustainable programs that improve access to healthcare and education and enhance the lives of women and children to enable them to participate in every aspect of life.

Board of Directors Dr. Adrienne Booth Johnson Director Dr. William Oduro Director Mr. Felton Eaddy Director Mr. Selasi Duse Director Agnes Hayfron Barnor President Evelyn Davis Immediate Past President Shahara Ruth Board Secretary

Executive Officials Agnes Hayfron Barnor President Adiza Harruna Vice President Shahara Ruth Secretary Linda Darko Treasurer Nicole Twum-Baah Public Relations Officer

Our Values Service beyond self A commitment to work together effectively Transparency in what we do and accepting responsibility for our collective and individual actions

Editorial Staff Nicole Twum-Baah Editor/Publisher The Brielle Agency www.thebrielleagency.com

Printed by: Minuteman Pr ess Kennesaw Cover Design: Ghanaian Women’s Association of Georgia Photo Credits: Reggie Er awoc (Fundraising Dinner pictures)

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About the Maternity Ward Project

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New mom nursing her baby after delivery

n 2015, GWAG adopted the maternity ward at the Elmina Urban Health Center in Ghana. The decision came following a visit by a GWAG representative to the hospital in October 2015.

During that visit, it was revealed that the hospital had needs that went beyond what the community could provide. The maternity department which serves over 100 patients a day in the prenatal unit, was only equipped with 2 rusty beds for labor and delivery, 4 beds for post-delivery, and no usa-

ble bathroom or toilet facilities. This lack of adequate beds caused the maternity ward’s staff to send pregnant women home to deliver their babies.

Fortunately, with the assistance of the District Assembly, an old maternity ward was expanded and refurbished. This expansion saw the addition of a ward big enough to hold up to 20 beds, newly installed toilet facilities, sinks, and more. However, financial restraints made it impossible for the district to equip the expanded ward with the necessary medical supplies. And this is where the Ghanaian Women’s Association of Georgia decided to step in and help.

Nurse at the old ward carrying a newborn baby

FUNDRAISING EFFORTS In December 2015, armed with a zest to make a difference in the Elmina community, GWAG launched an online fundraising campaign. And in March 2016, the organization hosted a fundraising dinner to help raise the remaining funds needed to ship medical equipment and supplies to the hospital. Some of the equipment the hospital needed and received were:

Hallway to the newly renovated ward 

2 incubators

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Delivery instruments and pallets of IV and wound care supplies, etc.

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22 delivery and post-delivery beds

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An ultrasound machine

By donating the above supplies, GWAG helped to: 

Increase KEEA’s ward capacity by 300%

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Help reduce Ghana’s maternal mortality rates

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Promote safe motherhood

Old dilapidated recovery ward 4

Previous state of the maternity ward. (From top to bottom: complete setup for delivery, post delivery ward with no storage facilities, Monica and another patient recovering after delivery)

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DONOR APPRECIATION COCKTAIL

Thank You! From the Fundraising Committee Generous donors like you made my job as a fundraising chair so much easier than I anticipated. Not only did your contributions help us meet our goal, but, with your help, we exceeded it and for that I am thankful. You trusted GWAG with your funds and as a result we were able to fully furnish our adopted maternity ward in Elmina, and donate supplies to Korle-bu, Yendi, and Oda hospitals. Your contributions have made the maternity experience a lot more comfortable for expectant mothers and their newborn babies who did not stand a chance before. The fundraising committee and the entire GWAG family is truly grateful. Thank you!

Emelia Awua Fundraising Committee Chair, GWAG 6

SPOTLIGHT: Dr. Stella Awua-Larbi

Dr. Stella Awua-Larbi is the first non-Georgia resident member of GWAG and was very instrumental in helping the association secure funding for the maternity ward project, including our biggest sponsor, Silver Cross Hospital.

Stella, a Ghanaian by birth, is a nephrologist practicing in the Chicago Metropolis area. She relocated from Ghana to the US, to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison and later went on to pursue a medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin. She completed her residency at Loyola University Medical Center and her nephrology fellowship at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. She has since been working at the Kidney Care Center in Illinois and is affiliated with Silver Cross Hospital in Illinois.

Why She Got Involved: In a r ecent conversation with Stella, she stated that she gave generously of her time and efforts to GWAG’S cause because, “As a Ghanaian native working and living in the US, it has always heavily weighed on my heart to give back to the country that has so little but yet has given me so much...the jumpstart to life. Learning about the selfless acts of a handful of women, their vision and passion to empower women and better the lives of children in Ghana, was definitely in line with my own desire to give back to that community.

I believed that if GWAG was able to meet the goal of transforming a skeleton of a ward to a fully functional one with the funding they received, lives would be positively altered. It has truly been an honor to be a part of this project.”

Stella contributed to the maternity ward project by: 1. Making a presentation before the Medical Executive Board at Silver Cross Hospital which resulted in our biggest donation, and 2. By asking friends to donate to the cause in lieu of gifts when she celebrated a recent milestone.

We truly appreciate Stella’s contributions to the success of the project and thank Silver Cross Hospital for believing in our vision! Thank you!

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Fundraising Dinner, Macon, and CocaCola’s Africa Day Celebrations.

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Above: GWAG Executive Team with Hon. Reichert, Hon. Ellis, and representatives of the Mayor’s office. Below: Members of GWAG

On April 23, 2016, members of GWAG were invited to a breakfast meeting with the Mayor of Macon, Georgia, Hon. Robert Reichert. The event was organized by former mayor of Macon, Hon. C. Jack Ellis, and was attended by members of the mayor's office and representatives of Mercer University. It was truly an honorable and memorable event to be a part of and we couldn't be prouder. The reason for the visit was to present the Elmina Hospital project and strengthen the Sister-City relationship between Elmina (Ghana) and Macon.

On May 25, 2016, GWAG was invited, as one of 6 vendors, to showcase our sustainable project, at the Coca-Cola headquarters in Atlanta. The event was part of the company's Africa Day celebrations which was organized by Africa Diaspora Network, a network of CocaCola employees. The event was very well-attended and received ample media coverage. This opportunity was made possible because you believed in us. So, again, THANK YOU!

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Tracking the Journey: From Tampa, FL to Accra, Elmina, Yendi, and Oda.

GWAG members, Adiza Harruna (in print dress), Naa Aryeetey (in blue), and Agnes Hayfron Barnor (in yellow and white) in Tampa, Florida, overseeing loading of 40ft container containing medical supplies. Supplies were provided by Advocates for World Health (AWHealth). Below: Supplies being unloaded, sorted and distributed in Accra.

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Above: GWAG in the Ghanaian Media

Below: GWAG Country Rep, Representatives from the Elmina Hospital, Yendi Hospital, and Rotary Clubs, at a Press Briefing held in Accra - August 2016

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GWAG Country Rep, Hajia Fatima High, flanked by presidents of the various Rotary Clubs (from l to r: Isaac Agyin Owusu, and Mawuli Atiemo)

ROTARY CLUB OF CAPE-COAST, ACCRA-AIRPORT, AND ACCRA-AIRPORT CITY SHARE THOUGHTS ON THEIR COLLABORATION WITH GWAG. Rotary International is a global network of volunteers who dedicate their time and talents to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian needs. The organization, whose work impacts millions of lives at both the local and international levels, and connects 1.2 million members from more than 200 countries and geographical areas, contributes its time, energy and passions to sustainable, long-term projects in peace and conflict resolution, disease prevention and treatment, water and sanitation, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, and economic and community development. In order to implement the completion of furnishing the maternity ward of the Elmina Urban Health Center, GWAG partnered with the Rotary Clubs of Accra-Airport, Accra-Airport City, and Cape-Coast Central. We asked each club’s president to share a little bit about club and the role they played in the successful completion of the maternity ward project.

Here’s what they said: charted on the 9th of October 2014 to bring together professionals around the Airport City enclave in an effort to promote friendship, as well as embark on service projects that would improve the area while supporting needy communities.

I'm the second President the club has had since its inception two Rotary Club of Accra Airport City years ago. I joined Rotary because is a young club sponsored by Rota- all around us, people are living in abject poverty. I grew up in a dery club of Accra Airport. It was

prived community in the Eastern Region of Ghana, and was the recipient of so many favors and support from relatives, teachers, and the Catholic Church, that now that I feel I'm in a position to help others, the only thing that makes sense is for me to pay it forward. Thus the desire to serve humanity and improve our society by giving back to the needy in society.

Maternal and child health is one of 12

the projects that Rotary supports, so it was quite easy to say yes when we were approached to support this worthy cause. Our sisters and mothers go through such stressful states just to give birth to our kids and siblings, and it needs to stop. My club was involved in the clearing

and sorting of the medical supplies for the three facilities (Elmina, Yendi and Oda) and was instrumental in advising GWAG of the need to give the highly specialized items it donated to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. These were presented separately to the Plastics and Burns

Unit and the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Teaching Hospital.

They were very appreciative of the gesture and ask for more support.

Mawuli Atiemo, President, Rotary Club of Accra Airport

partnerships with HFC Bank and institutions like GWAG to donate medical supplies to Urban Health Centers.

The Rotary Club of Accra Airport was chartered in 2000, with a foundation rooted in fun, comradery, and, of course, service to the communities. We currently have 50 members.

GWAG’s aims and objectives are not that different from those of Rotary. We are involved in maternal and child health care, disease prevention and treatment, and economic empowerment. So it was not a difficult decision choosing to partner with GWAG. We took on the responsibility of writing the necessary letters to the sector ministry for duty payment exemption and were responsible for the clearance of the goods from the port to the warehouse. We supervised and crossed-checked the item list to ensure that every item was accounted for at the warehouse. We also covered a portion of the handling charges at the point of clearance.

Again with our sister Rotary club of Accra Airport The club has consistently executed projects that have City and Rotary Club of Cape – Coast we ensured the positively impacted communities across Ghana in its installation of the equipment at the hospitals and offi16 years of existence, making it the ideal rotary club cially handed over to the recipient health centers. in Ghana. Some of our projects include the provision Nathan Adu, Rotary Club of of boreholes and medicals consumables to the KorleAccra Airport City bu teaching hospital in Accra; drugs and food items to the La Polyclinic and psychiatric hospitals; and Ridge. Like Rotary International, we provide humanitarian services.

Currently our numerical strength stands at 29 with 20 active members.

One of the 6 key areas of focus of Rotary is “Child and Maternal Health Care”. So we were very much excited when we were invitRotary club of Cape Coast Central ed to partner with GWAG, Rotary was charted on the 4th of Septem- clubs of Accra Airport, and Accra ber, 2015, by Rotary club of Accra Airport City to be a part of this pro-

ject. We were specifically present to receive the medical equipment and supplies when they arrived at the maternity ward in Elmina, and we are indeed grateful for being given the opportunity to serve the community.

Isaac Agyin Owusu, President, Rotary Club of CapeCoast

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GWAG GHANA REPRESENTATIVE AND PROJECT LEAD—HAJIA FATIMA HIGH To ensure the successful delivery, clearance and distribution of the medical supplies donated to the Elmina Urban Health Center’s maternity ward in Ghana, GWAG required physical presence on the ground, and we were lucky and blessed to find it in GWAG Country Rep and Project Lead, Hajia Fatima High. Hajia, a former Atlanta resident and active member of GWAG prior to relocating to the capital city of Accra was instrumental in seeing the project to a smooth and successful end. In this interview with GWAG president, Agnes Hayfron Barnor, Hajia shares her first-hand experience in implementing this very important project.

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Q

: Hajia, you saw the previous state of the ward in your prior visit to the hospital, how does it feel to witness the transformation of the maternity ward at the Elmina Urban Health Center?

perience was in clearing the goods.

Ans: It boils down to due diligence. We wer e ver y lucky to have the collaboration of the Ghana Health Services who not only laid out the procedure for consigning the shipment but also facilitated the clearing of the Ans: The tr ansfor mation was life-changing and fulgoods for us for free. All we had to pay were service filling. From communicating with the Ghana Health Ser- charges and transportation. The only challenges we vices team during the clearing of the supplies to solicit- faced were delays due to government bureaucracy. ing funds for transportation, arranging storage, sorting Overall it wasn't a terrible process once we followed the supplies, and transporting to the various health cen- their guidance. ters, and finally seeing the transformed ward made our Q: In teaming up with 3 Rotar y Clubs (Accr a Air efforts worthwhile. port, Accra Airport City, and Cape Coast) to implement Q: What do you see to be the factor s contr ibuting to this project, what does this partnership mean to you and the deplorable state of many hospitals in Ghana? And how will it enhance our operations in the future? how do you think the government (MOH/GHS/NHIS) Ans: The par tner ship is indispensable. We couldn' t can be held accountable to fund these healthcare facilihave accomplished the project without the 3 Rotary ties?

Clubs. We have similar missions in terms of helping in Ans: The r easons ar e many; in my opinthe area of maternity care and we defiion, the lack of a maintenance culture on nitely need to continue the collaboration the part of government workers in Ghana for the future success of our mission in plays a huge role. The typical government Ghana. hospital does not do a good job of maintaining the limited resources they have. All Q: Being on the gr ound, have you identhey care about is the salary that they take tified any other hospitals we should conhome. The government cannot fund the sider assisting? healthcare facilities alone. NGO's like GWAG are needed to help change the Ans: The poor state of healthcar e in mindset of the workers by exposing them general, and maternity care in particular is unfortunately to some best practices from the developed world. not unique to any single region, town, or village. Elmina is the beginning of this audacious undertaking to make a positive impact in this aspect of women’s healthcare.

Ghana needs a lot of help in the healthcare sector, throughout the country, but especially in the northern Ans: GWAG does not have the r esour ces to be visit- part. We can continue with adopting Oda or Yendi Goving Elmina often, so we collaborated with Rotary Club ernment Hospital which we have assisted in addition to of Cape Coast to take on the responsibilities of monitor- Elmina, and in the long-term, other maternity wards ing and evaluating the maintenance plan set in place by throughout Ghana. We’ve got our work cut out for us the Elmina Urban Health Centre. Rotary members will and I believe if we stay focused, and get the right partmake both scheduled and unscheduled visits to the enter ners to support, we will see measurable results over to audit and inspect the medical equipment and to retime. view the storeroom log of the medical supplies to ascertain usage.

Q: What measur es have been or ar e being put in place to ensure that the hospital has a maintenance plan in place for the supplies?

Q: We ar e all familiar with stor ies about how donated supplies end up not leaving the port because of high import duties. Talk to us a little bit about what your ex15

On Tuesday, September 13, 2016, the maternity ward of the Elmina Urban Health Center was commissioned!

The event, coordinated by GWAG in collaboration with the Rotary Clubs of Cape-Coast, Accra Airport, and Accra-Airport City, was held in the forecourt of the Health Center. In attendance were traditional leaders of the area, community leaders, hospital management and staff, and representatives from the Ghana Health Service and the Ministry of Health. Nana Kweku Attom IV of Kontrodo served as chairperson for the occasion, standing in for the Omanhen of the Elmina traditional area, Nana Kodwo Condua VI. Also in attendance were Zagoon Saeed Ishmael, Municipal Chief Executive of Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem Municipal Assembly, and Nana Tseasewaa III, Queenmother of Gwira Akyinim.

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Above: Head midwife, Bridgette Kwame leading guests to view the new ward.

Below: GWAG Rep, Rotary Club members and nursing staff touring the newly furnished ward.

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Major Individual Donors (List compiled 3/23/2016) A heartfelt Thank You! to the following individuals who gave generously to the maternity ward project!

Adaobi Ngoka

Danny Mensah

Gretchen Fields

Nana Akua Bandoh

Adiza Haruna

Deborah Okai

Isaac Thompson

Nana Asare-Kwaa

Adwoa Arnong

Desmond Williams

Jasmine Ngegba

Nazia Harruna

Afia Siriboe

Dora Bannor

Jayne & Charles Menson

Nee Quarcoopome Barnor

Afua Bandoh

Dora Okrah

Jennifer Tuazon

Nicole Twum-Baah

Agnes Hayfron Barnor

Doreen Monger

Joseph Maclaverty

Paul Banahene

Akosua Apenteng

Doris & David Darko

Josephine Appiah

Pearl & Michael Aidoo

Akosua Baiden

Dorothy Owusu

Joyce Owusu (Winfrey)

Peter Ankomah

Al Addae & Zina Butler

Dr. Ernest Ahiaku (UK)

Judith Richardson

Prudence Danso-Dapaah

Albert N Opoku

Dr. Nana Abena Arthur

Julie Kwarteng

Reginald Manteaw

Alex E Ntsifu

Dr. Nashiru Issahaku

Karim Amos

Rosemary Atta-Fynn

Alice Quartey-Papafio

Kerri Cufaro

Sally Hayfron-Benjamin

Alvira A Dickson

Dr. Omotayo Johnson (UK)

Kojo Bedu-Addo

Sardia Mould

Ama Acquah

Dr. Stella Awua-Larbi

Kwasi Yeboah

Selina Omari-Wadie

Ama Bempah & Nana Bonsu

Dr. Toni Aubynn

Lavonne Brown

Sheela Awuah Fosu

Dr. William Oduro

Linda Darko

Solomon Osei-Bonsu

Ama G. Korsah

Dusti Prisock

Lydia Yeboah

Sophia Ghartey

Ama Tillman

Dziedzorm Toppar

Lynn Osei-Asibey

Sybil Seade

Amanarh Kisseih

Ebenezer Laing

Mahamadu Maida

Theodora Vandyke

Angela & Oko Buckle

Elana Peeples

Mariam Quarshie

Thomas Daniels

Anita Wilson

Emelia & Ofori Quarcoo

Marian Adomako

Victor Acquah

Asenso Kuffuor

Emmanuel Mercer

Mercy Coleman

Victor Frimpong

Augustine Baffo

Eric Donkor

Michael Akita

Vivan Tran

Barbara & Clement Quartey-Papafio

Esther Awua

Michael Larbi

Winnie & Sonny Longon

Benjamin Baidoo

Mohammed Ali Ibrahim

Yaa G Sarpong

Evelyn S Boateng

Beryl V Bergquist Bessant Parker Bismarck Amoah

Esther Hardy

Morkor Newman Yaw Akuoko-Sarpong Floyd Brown-Washington Morufu Alausa George Awuku Mr & Mrs Kwaku Appiah Gloria Asher

Brittany N Thompson

Mr Boakye

Gloria White

Christian Alabi

Naa Aryeetey

Gregory B McClendon

Nadim Quarshie 18

We searched high and low for the right words to express our appreciation for your support of our maternity ward project. Thank You was not enough, so we went from the southern tip of Ghana to the north and found these: Yɛ daa si Yɛ da hɔn asi Akpɛ W’ɔn da bo shi Naagode Thanks for being our BIGGEST donor!!!

Thank you also to the following businesses for your financial and in-kind donations to the maternity ward project!

Margins Group Co. Ltd., Ghana

Cayce Foods International, Georgia

Voltex Health Associates, Georgia

Discovery Point, Georgia

The Brielle Agency, Georgia

North Metro Women’s Healthcare

Universal Shipping Lines

Allied Health Professional Institute, Georgia

Ewe Association of Georgia Amina Baobab, LLC

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2897 N. Druid Hills Road Suite 121 Atlanta, GA 30329

Phone: 641-715-3900 Email: info@ghanawomen.org

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