Ghanaian Nurses In Chicago Kick-Off A Fundraiser ...

The popular and strong 15 member Ghana Nurses Association of the Midwest (GNAMW) headed by Mr. Seth Nkansa, RN, unveiled a hundred thousand dollars plan to build a diagnostic center and a clinic in Ghana at the Sheraton Hotel in Chicago yesterday.

The function which was well attended by people of all walks of life included visitors from out of state, the chiefs and queen mothers of the Ghanaian community in Chicago: Nana Attah Darko, Nana Akwesi Appiah, Togbui Wenya, Nana Yaw Gyanfi, OhemaaYaa Boakyiwaa, Ohemaa Ama Akyaa; the strong leadership of the Ghana National council, headed by Mr. Clement Timpo; Mrs. Betty Evans Represented US Congressman Boby Rush, Dr Andrew Davis was the key note speaker. Other dignitaries present were Dr. Ohemeng, Dr. Boyd, Mrs. Empress Dotse, Mr. Anthony Kwateng, Mr. Affriyie, Mr. Boafo Papafio, Former Alderman Jesse Evans, Benjamin Lartey, John Abbeyea, Eddie Quartey, Alhaji Baba-Cise, Mr. Samuel Adjepong, Mr.Kwesi Yeboah and Alex Annang of Annaka Enterprise.

The occasion started with the National Anthems of Ghana and the United States, which drew a lot of emotions among the gathering. In his address, Mr. Seth Nkansa appealed to the Ghanaian and the American community to extend a hand of hope to the people of Ghana through the Ghana Nurses Association, a non-profit (501 c 3) organization, to enable it build a modern diagnostic center and a clinic in Ghana. He estimated the project to cost about Hundred thousand US dollars. The center he said would benefit the poor and the needy in Ghana.

He equated the present situation of healthcare in Ghana to a passenger train full of people heading downhill to cross a broken-bridge and worst of all, its breaks has failed, and therefore need a lot of help and support to prevent a catastrophe. He mentioned that the closure of the Medical Block of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, the premier Healthcare center in Ghana and West Africa, as a great loss and should concern all Ghanaians, home and abroad. Mr. Nkansa narrated incidences in Ghana which resulted in death but the victims could have been saved if there were certain types of preventive diagnostic equipment and supplies readily available. He ended his speech by appealing to the audience to spread the message of hope to their friends and co-workers.

In her remarks, Mrs. Betty Evans, representing Congressman Bobby Rush, told the gathering that the congressman's administration is aware of the critical healthcare situation in Ghana and would work closely with the Ghana Nurses Association to address some of these problems. Dr. Andrew Davis, in his keynote address noted that the healthcare problem in Ghana could be attributed to many factors including the ECONOMY, HEALTH EDUCATION /DOCUMENTATION AND HUMAN FACTOR.

Dr. Davis, as he is popularly known among Ghanaian in Chicago, is no novice to the healthcare situation in Ghana. He is the head of a foundation that has a clinic at Saltpond in the Central Region of Ghana. Dr. Davis compared the disparaging healthcare situation in Ghana to that of Britain, the former colonial ruler of Ghana to explain his points. Few examples are as follows:

 BRITAIN                       GHANA Population                  60 million                    20 million Fertility                    1.7                           4.6 Life Expectancy             77.5 yrs                      58 yrs Healthcare Expenditure       5.9                           1.8 Doctor per 100,000         164                             6 Infant Mortality per 1000    6                            63 Malaria per 100000           0                          1200 Tuberculosis                10                            53 HIV                          0.6                           3.6 

Dr. Davis lamented that whilst Ghana produces about 125 doctors a year the patient doctor ratio in Ghana is one of the worst in the world. He also mentioned that only 9000 nurses are presently working in the healthcare system in Ghana, which needs over 40000 nurses .Of the 9000 nurses however, hundreds are leaving yearly. He espoused that less doctors and nurses leads to more diseases, chronic and acute, which in turn lead to less workforce resulting in poverty. He noted that at the present trend, Ghana could have about 500,000 cases of HIV/AIDS by the year 2014.

He mentioned diseases like cataracts and onchocerchiasis could be treated yearly at the cost of $76.00. He advised the community to support efforts of the GNAMW to improve the healthcare delivery system in Ghana. The GNAMW grossed six Thousand dollars at the function.