Still hard to believe

Finally, we left. Finally, we are in Ghana, and it is still hard to believe. I left home, Madrid, during this uncertain time, after (during?) Covid19 era. I have left my co-workers nurses at the hospital facing the second and third waves of this pandemic, and I still asking myself if it was a fair decision. I have switched from Covid19 rapid tests to Malaria rapid tests in less than a week. I have changed the snow for the amazing sunsets and the dust, and the gray and black for thousand of colors. And I feel alive. New place, new house, new family, new job, new challenges. Let's begin!

Our first weeks can be described with one word: MEETINGS. Meetings all the time. We were introduced to a lot of people that it felt so difficult to remember all their names and their titles. Day-to-day situation: “Hello, I am Marina, I am a nurse” and my colleague “Hello, I am Maria, I am a midwife” and after this really confused faces looking at us. Is it the same name? What is the difference? Are you twins? Sure we are :)

Maria and me with Victor ( KoCDA director) 

Before starting to visit the clinics, we had a meeting at the Health directorate of Nabdam district to discuss common points regarding community health issues and get their permission to assist at the local clinics. We felt really welcome by them, and we decided to create a common portal to share our future plans and listen to their proposals. After that, we also went to the Ghana Education Service, Nabdam district office, and were introduced to the director and supervisor, regarding the continuation of the sex education program initiated by previous volunteers at local Junior High Schools. Then, we were ready to start!

Meeting at Health directorate of Nabdam district 

First weeks at Ayamfooya clinic were really intense. I met the team and learned how they work there, everyone was so excited to show me around. Suddenly the main topic was not the famous coronavirus, but malaria, typhus and diarrhea. Suddenly I was at the lab learning how to identify malaria parasites so far from the big hospital back home. I shared some shifts with Mark (the temporal nurse in charge), with Mommy Lidia (in charge of the dressing room), Sofia, Gina, Desmond and Abraham. We were discussing about emergency procedures, nursing procedures, bedridden patients care, chronic wounds, routes of administration of drugs, hygiene, ethical issues and patient-centered care. Desmond and Abraham are two young, motivated and hardworking nurses. They have finished university last year and now they are waiting for their National Service destination. They love to talk with me about the Spanish football league (something that I don’t follow at all) so I had to contact some friends back home for them to discuss about football and they really enjoy it. It seems this small clinic is not enough for all their dreams.

Rafael (lab technician) looking
for malaria parasites in the microscopy

 

Malaria rapid tests

Desmond, Abraham and I at Ayamfooya clinic ward

Our new home is within a bigger household, composed of several houses around a central courtyard. We share the place with other families. It feels good. Our daily movements are mixed with the daily chores, laundry, construction of the new house, children, chickens and puppies. There is always someone to welcome you with a smile when coming back home, there is always life inside the courtyard.

I am sharing this experience with my fellow volunteers from Estonia, Maria and Janek. Somehow a lot of people think I am also from Estonia. Sometimes locals speak to me in Estonian as well, and they expect me to understand! What has happened here?! It is already quite difficult to understand everything that is going on around to add 2 more languages. Sometimes I feel I am doing double cultural immersion, but I like it! I feel really lucky to be here with them as we are experiencing the same situation, we share concerns, challenges and we help each other. We have become a little family here :)

Maria, Janek and me at Bongo hills

The three of us at Kongo market
buying locals noodles at Julie place 

John is my mentor. He works for KoCDA, our hosting organization, helping with the accounting mostly and also at Logre Clinic as a Cashier. He was one of the sponsored children of Mondo. We meet every week to discuss my tasks, my relationship with the local team, my integration into the community and all other issues. John is young, shy, polite, respectful, smiling, calm and I feel really comfortable working with him. He is the kind of person that emits good energy and peace. He is taking care of us and I found him really helpful. He has good ideas regarding our work here. His dream is to study accounting at Accra University, for which he has to save money before. Also, he taught me how to play oware, a local game, where you chop some seeds in different holes. I will never be able to win them but I really enjoy it. The touch of the seeds ball in the hands is very magical.

John, Maria and me visiting Logre Clinic

John teaching me how to play oware
(local board game) at our balcony

John hiking in Bongo hills

Marina Castrillo (EU Aid Volunteer in Kongo, Upper East Ghana)