Hello,
Today, our sector activity was to visit a family planning clinic about 30 minutes from our homestay village. We have discussed before in sector the various methods of birth control women and men use and the most effective ways to communicate the importance of family planning. This is an issue that is of deep concern to me so I thought I would just share what I have learned thus far about family planning in Ghana.
A few other volunteers and I recently completed a cultural presentation (the topic was up to our choosing) on the process of giving childbirth. During the process of collecting information, we learned that the majority of women are giving birth in hospitals since the national health insurance plan began about 5 years ago. It is a very good plan, with extensive coverage. It is not compulsory to join, but hospitals visits are very expensive without the plan. It is free to give birth in a gov. hospital, whereas it costs about 7 dollars to give birth with a midwife. Midwives are now a last resort and are only used if it is too late to get to the hospital. The overwhelming response we received from the women was that it was much better to give birth in a hospital because "you get more meds." It is interesting to see the contrast between the States, where midwives are gaining in popularity, and Ghana, where Westernization and technology is gaining influence. It made me wonder whether the hospital is actually better or if the perception that hospitals are better is prevalent due to the status given to "the white man" and the U.S.
During this process, we also learned that the birth rate is decreasing in Ghana. Women used to have 10 children and now, at the most, they have four. Of course, this may not be true in the North (with a Muslim influence) and in rural areas. Women did make the connection that though giving birth is free, the children still cost alot of money to raise.
There has been a shift in focusing primarily on the women to educate about family planning. This is because NGOs and the government have realized that men are the power keepers in the families and thus, control whether or not their wives can use birth control. In Ghana, there is a large campaign titled "Real Men Plan Their Families" and I am sure that I will be involved in family planning community activities in Volta. The nurse at the family planning clinic informed us that for women to get a hysterectomy, they must have the consent of their husband. We were quite confused about this because not all women are married and what if the husband is abusive or the marital situation is not good. The nurse finally understood our question and told us that if necessary, another family member can sign as the witness. In Ghana, they have the capability to perform vasectomies, but the nurse told us that she has never known a man to get one done. To Ghanian men, a vasectomy is comparable, in their eyes, to castration.
We also found out that abortion is illegal in Ghana unless the mother's life is in danger. Our Peace Corps trainer told us that many of the Peace Corps education volunteers have had young women die in their classrooms due to botched abortions. Thus it is the same situation that existed in the U.S. before abortions were legal. Women and young girls would still perform abortions, just with bottles, herbal medicines, coat hangers, etc. One of the problems is that young women cannot get family planning without a parent and thus, they do not practice family planning until after their first child or a dangerous abortion.
I am looking forward to working in Tutukpene because one of my primary responsbilities will be working at the District Clinic, working with mothers and children, and working with the youth. Much work to be done!
I will be visiting Tutukpene on Saturday for site visit and will be back for my last few days at homestay on Friday. Then the swearing in ceremony! It is all happening so fast.
tata,
Lindsey
Monday, July 20, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
obama rama
Hello all,
So last weekend was a big weekend since we made the trek to see Obama at the Accra Airport. It has been our understanding for the last month or so that Obama was not scheduling a PC event due to his tight schedule. A few days before Saturday, we found out that, indeed, there was going to be a PC event. :D Whoop whoop!
All the PC trainees left for Accra on Saturday morning from our training site near Kofrigidua. We traveled in two PC vans and a red tro. The trip took about three hours. We got to the PC site in Accra and got our tickets for the event. We then headed to the Embassy, though this was somewhat difficult since all the roads leading to the airport were blocked by the military. We had to wait at roadblock for about thirty minutes until the fully armed officers were thoroughly impressed by our PC logo on the vans and our laminated letter from the US Gov. We then waited at the airport, in the air conditioned Embassy buses, for at least an hour and half. Life in Ghana entails not knowing what is happening 24/7 and lots of waiting. While waiting, we watched the award-winning film Sheena. The themes include a blonde child being abandoned in Africa and then fulfilling the prophesy that a "Golden Child" will come to the tribe and save them (since they are not capable of saving themselves), a wise, older African woman that only speaks in prophesies and parables, an American journalist that finds Sheena and then is changed forever into a better man because of this savior/Golden Child/blonde with no hair on her body except her flowing golden locks. How ironic that in the Embassy bus we watched a movie with the themes of colonialism and Africa as the "Other."
Finally we got in line to get in our positions to see Obama. In typical Ghanian style, there was no order or process for letting people into the gate. There were about 100 of us from the Peace Corps waiting to get in and then about another 300 Ghanian. The police only instituted some semblance of order when the Ghanians began to push. There was a seperate space for the Peace Corps volunteers that was about 15 feet from the podium of the Ghanian president and Obama's podium. Before we saw Obama, there was drumming and dancing. Helicopters were taxing around the site of his speech constantly. He arrived at the airport in a helicopter and then was driven to the podium. When he arrived, we were ecstatic. It seemed so surreal. We were cheering so loudly that we did not hear what the Ghanian president, John Atta Mills, was saying during his first few lines. I could not see Obama too well. I stood on my tiptoes for the majority of the event. I just relished the fact that I could hear his renowned oratory skills first hand. I felt so priveleged. He gave the PC two shout outs and we responded widly. :D His speech focused on the themes of the extreme wealth Africa possesses in terms of man-power, the symbolic importance of Ghana (Cape Coast, first African nation to gain independence from a colonizer, one of the most peaceful countries in Ghana, the long-standing relationship with the U.S.), the appropriate role the U.S. can take in assisting Ghana, and the more important role the youth in Ghana most play in the development and sustainability of their own country.
What I find very interesting is the hope that Obama gives Ghanians. This event sparked many conversations about the U.S. , politics, and Obama. Of course, they were very pleased due to his administration's large monetary donation. That aside, the sentiments Ghanians express about Obama and the exuberance their countenances exhibit is an effect a bit more untangible. Many of us have walked through our villages to cheers of "Obama! Obama!" One just has to mention Obama and children and adults alike smile their widest smiles. At times like these, it feels so good to be an American. Policies and his first months in office aside, their joy is understandable. A man, who does not look so different from themselves, has the highest position in America for the first time in history. Seeing through their eyes, anything is possible, and this spirit is hard is contagious. At moments like these, I put away my intellect and the political issues I am concerned about, and just pump my fist in response to their cheers.
Oh yeah...one of the first comments my host mother said to me after I returned from Accra was, "Obama, what a fine, fine man. A handsome man!" She then proceeded to dance about the room for three minutes. We all have our reasons for jubilation. :D
hope all is well,
Lindsey
So last weekend was a big weekend since we made the trek to see Obama at the Accra Airport. It has been our understanding for the last month or so that Obama was not scheduling a PC event due to his tight schedule. A few days before Saturday, we found out that, indeed, there was going to be a PC event. :D Whoop whoop!
All the PC trainees left for Accra on Saturday morning from our training site near Kofrigidua. We traveled in two PC vans and a red tro. The trip took about three hours. We got to the PC site in Accra and got our tickets for the event. We then headed to the Embassy, though this was somewhat difficult since all the roads leading to the airport were blocked by the military. We had to wait at roadblock for about thirty minutes until the fully armed officers were thoroughly impressed by our PC logo on the vans and our laminated letter from the US Gov. We then waited at the airport, in the air conditioned Embassy buses, for at least an hour and half. Life in Ghana entails not knowing what is happening 24/7 and lots of waiting. While waiting, we watched the award-winning film Sheena. The themes include a blonde child being abandoned in Africa and then fulfilling the prophesy that a "Golden Child" will come to the tribe and save them (since they are not capable of saving themselves), a wise, older African woman that only speaks in prophesies and parables, an American journalist that finds Sheena and then is changed forever into a better man because of this savior/Golden Child/blonde with no hair on her body except her flowing golden locks. How ironic that in the Embassy bus we watched a movie with the themes of colonialism and Africa as the "Other."
Finally we got in line to get in our positions to see Obama. In typical Ghanian style, there was no order or process for letting people into the gate. There were about 100 of us from the Peace Corps waiting to get in and then about another 300 Ghanian. The police only instituted some semblance of order when the Ghanians began to push. There was a seperate space for the Peace Corps volunteers that was about 15 feet from the podium of the Ghanian president and Obama's podium. Before we saw Obama, there was drumming and dancing. Helicopters were taxing around the site of his speech constantly. He arrived at the airport in a helicopter and then was driven to the podium. When he arrived, we were ecstatic. It seemed so surreal. We were cheering so loudly that we did not hear what the Ghanian president, John Atta Mills, was saying during his first few lines. I could not see Obama too well. I stood on my tiptoes for the majority of the event. I just relished the fact that I could hear his renowned oratory skills first hand. I felt so priveleged. He gave the PC two shout outs and we responded widly. :D His speech focused on the themes of the extreme wealth Africa possesses in terms of man-power, the symbolic importance of Ghana (Cape Coast, first African nation to gain independence from a colonizer, one of the most peaceful countries in Ghana, the long-standing relationship with the U.S.), the appropriate role the U.S. can take in assisting Ghana, and the more important role the youth in Ghana most play in the development and sustainability of their own country.
What I find very interesting is the hope that Obama gives Ghanians. This event sparked many conversations about the U.S. , politics, and Obama. Of course, they were very pleased due to his administration's large monetary donation. That aside, the sentiments Ghanians express about Obama and the exuberance their countenances exhibit is an effect a bit more untangible. Many of us have walked through our villages to cheers of "Obama! Obama!" One just has to mention Obama and children and adults alike smile their widest smiles. At times like these, it feels so good to be an American. Policies and his first months in office aside, their joy is understandable. A man, who does not look so different from themselves, has the highest position in America for the first time in history. Seeing through their eyes, anything is possible, and this spirit is hard is contagious. At moments like these, I put away my intellect and the political issues I am concerned about, and just pump my fist in response to their cheers.
Oh yeah...one of the first comments my host mother said to me after I returned from Accra was, "Obama, what a fine, fine man. A handsome man!" She then proceeded to dance about the room for three minutes. We all have our reasons for jubilation. :D
hope all is well,
Lindsey
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Back from Field Trip
Hey, so the blog has not been updated in some time. We have been really busy with language training and technical training.
Everyday, we all have language classes for about 4 hours (a little long if you ask me). We are all learning different languages based on where we have been placed with Ghana. I am learning Twi or attempting to learn it. We then learn skills related to our sector. Thus far, we have learned about the various styles of latrines, visited an HIV/AIDS clinic, visited some boar holes, have met various community leaders and organizations. We just got back from a field trip to the North and then to the Volta region. In the North, we stayed with a current volunteer and visited her community's water source, a dam, and played in a football match. Football is quite big here so one way to do community outreach is by organizing a football game and doing a presentation during half-time. We did a presentation on guinea worm, which is a parasite that is in the water and then after a year, pops through someone's leg (or another body part) to try to find water to lay more eggs. It is been eradicated in many places in Africa and Ghana, but it is still prevalent in the North. We then went from the North to the Nkwanta/Volta region. In the Nkwanta region, we payed a visit to a Women's Development Project, the District Hospital, and a current volunteer's site. At Cynthia's site, we met with the workers at the clinic, visited the chief, and watched various dramas presented by students on issues affecting Ghana. The topics of the dramas were HIV/AIDS, the importance of education, and saving money. My site is only 10 K from Cynthia's site so we passed by it and I got to see my future home! I am so excited. My site is nestled right up against a small mountain. Apparently, women come down from the mountain to sell mangoes, oranges, papaya, etc. Also, the other volunteers near my site have gone up the mountain to do baby-weighing at a community in the mountains. They make a whole day trip out of it-the hike, the community outreach, and then the community feeds them. I just saw the outside of my house and it looks like a standard living environment for volunteers. Cynthia did tell me that during funerals, for whatever reason, they place the loudspeaker right by my window and blare music all night. Funerals here are a time to party. They are quite the fete. Perhaps if I really cannot sleep, I will go to Cynthia's. Cynthia also told me that Tutukpene (my site!) has quite the nightlife so they usually meet in my village for some cold refreshments. My village has a two story bar (spot) - a big deal! haha. Besides the natural beauty and the social life, Cynthia has told me that Sarah (the volunteer I am replacing) loves Tutukpene and has had a great experience. :D
So that is sort of boring stuff. There have been quite a few funny cultural situations. My friend Elyse and I went to church last Sunday. We both do not go to church in the states, but here it is recommended to go, at least once, because church is such a large part of the lives of Ghanians.So we went. I must admit that I took my sweet time getting ready in the morning and thus, we were like two hours late. In Ghana, that does not really matter since church lasts 5 hours. I was really apprehensive about going, but I had avoided it the weekend before, so I bit the bullet. If it was any indication of what I was getting myself into, one of my fellow volunteers left about two minutes after I got there because she could not handle the messages being conveyed about the role of women any longer. I missed out (?) on that part, but came when the two hour long offering session had just begun. So in Ghana, giving offering lasts like an hour or two. They just keep playing more music and calling people up to the altar. If they see foreigners (Americans=money), they congratulate you for coming by singling you out to donate money and call your name out as if you have won the lottery. Many volunteers get letters from community churches announcing that they have been selected to donate a given sum of money. It seems that most politely decline. So the culmination of the service is when Elyse and I are called up to the altar and they announce that we cannot go back to our seats unless people donate 10 ghana cedis for each of us. That is quite a large sum so I expected both women and men to donate money and for the money to come from various individuals. Nope. I guess it was literally an auction. The pastor donated 10 cedis for Elyse and then a young man, about my age, donated 10 for me. Under his breath, after the donation, the pastor then told me that I will marry this benefactor. Um yeah....I stayed for about 5 more minutes. I doubt I will be going back. hah.
While we were in the North, the chief brought us a live guinea fowl as a welcoming present. Some young boys helped slaughter it and that was dinner. I have never smelled fresh blood. Not sure if I want to again. I'll stick with groundnut paste (peanut butter), avocados, and soy kebabs. Actually, I have been trying many things here. I do like fufu because it is hearty and takes on the flavor of the soup it is served with. I love a dish called red red, which is fried plantains, rice, and beans in a red sauce. I am excited to cook for myself and eat more cabbage and veggies. My host family tries hard but they do not understand the concept of fiber.
So, I am sure you all are surprised that I actually played football since my hand-eye coordination is seriously lacking. It was so much fun! We were great comic relief. Only one of the guys in our group wanted to play and he played for the first half. So it was all women against these agile, quick-steppin Ghanian men. Some of us had never played before. My friend asked me, "So is the theory of the game?" Oh yes. It was ridiculous.
call me or email me!
linds
Everyday, we all have language classes for about 4 hours (a little long if you ask me). We are all learning different languages based on where we have been placed with Ghana. I am learning Twi or attempting to learn it. We then learn skills related to our sector. Thus far, we have learned about the various styles of latrines, visited an HIV/AIDS clinic, visited some boar holes, have met various community leaders and organizations. We just got back from a field trip to the North and then to the Volta region. In the North, we stayed with a current volunteer and visited her community's water source, a dam, and played in a football match. Football is quite big here so one way to do community outreach is by organizing a football game and doing a presentation during half-time. We did a presentation on guinea worm, which is a parasite that is in the water and then after a year, pops through someone's leg (or another body part) to try to find water to lay more eggs. It is been eradicated in many places in Africa and Ghana, but it is still prevalent in the North. We then went from the North to the Nkwanta/Volta region. In the Nkwanta region, we payed a visit to a Women's Development Project, the District Hospital, and a current volunteer's site. At Cynthia's site, we met with the workers at the clinic, visited the chief, and watched various dramas presented by students on issues affecting Ghana. The topics of the dramas were HIV/AIDS, the importance of education, and saving money. My site is only 10 K from Cynthia's site so we passed by it and I got to see my future home! I am so excited. My site is nestled right up against a small mountain. Apparently, women come down from the mountain to sell mangoes, oranges, papaya, etc. Also, the other volunteers near my site have gone up the mountain to do baby-weighing at a community in the mountains. They make a whole day trip out of it-the hike, the community outreach, and then the community feeds them. I just saw the outside of my house and it looks like a standard living environment for volunteers. Cynthia did tell me that during funerals, for whatever reason, they place the loudspeaker right by my window and blare music all night. Funerals here are a time to party. They are quite the fete. Perhaps if I really cannot sleep, I will go to Cynthia's. Cynthia also told me that Tutukpene (my site!) has quite the nightlife so they usually meet in my village for some cold refreshments. My village has a two story bar (spot) - a big deal! haha. Besides the natural beauty and the social life, Cynthia has told me that Sarah (the volunteer I am replacing) loves Tutukpene and has had a great experience. :D
So that is sort of boring stuff. There have been quite a few funny cultural situations. My friend Elyse and I went to church last Sunday. We both do not go to church in the states, but here it is recommended to go, at least once, because church is such a large part of the lives of Ghanians.So we went. I must admit that I took my sweet time getting ready in the morning and thus, we were like two hours late. In Ghana, that does not really matter since church lasts 5 hours. I was really apprehensive about going, but I had avoided it the weekend before, so I bit the bullet. If it was any indication of what I was getting myself into, one of my fellow volunteers left about two minutes after I got there because she could not handle the messages being conveyed about the role of women any longer. I missed out (?) on that part, but came when the two hour long offering session had just begun. So in Ghana, giving offering lasts like an hour or two. They just keep playing more music and calling people up to the altar. If they see foreigners (Americans=money), they congratulate you for coming by singling you out to donate money and call your name out as if you have won the lottery. Many volunteers get letters from community churches announcing that they have been selected to donate a given sum of money. It seems that most politely decline. So the culmination of the service is when Elyse and I are called up to the altar and they announce that we cannot go back to our seats unless people donate 10 ghana cedis for each of us. That is quite a large sum so I expected both women and men to donate money and for the money to come from various individuals. Nope. I guess it was literally an auction. The pastor donated 10 cedis for Elyse and then a young man, about my age, donated 10 for me. Under his breath, after the donation, the pastor then told me that I will marry this benefactor. Um yeah....I stayed for about 5 more minutes. I doubt I will be going back. hah.
While we were in the North, the chief brought us a live guinea fowl as a welcoming present. Some young boys helped slaughter it and that was dinner. I have never smelled fresh blood. Not sure if I want to again. I'll stick with groundnut paste (peanut butter), avocados, and soy kebabs. Actually, I have been trying many things here. I do like fufu because it is hearty and takes on the flavor of the soup it is served with. I love a dish called red red, which is fried plantains, rice, and beans in a red sauce. I am excited to cook for myself and eat more cabbage and veggies. My host family tries hard but they do not understand the concept of fiber.
So, I am sure you all are surprised that I actually played football since my hand-eye coordination is seriously lacking. It was so much fun! We were great comic relief. Only one of the guys in our group wanted to play and he played for the first half. So it was all women against these agile, quick-steppin Ghanian men. Some of us had never played before. My friend asked me, "So is the theory of the game?" Oh yes. It was ridiculous.
call me or email me!
linds
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
my digits
hey y'all. so if you want to call or text me, you can at 0220542370028. it is free for me to receive calls. at this point, i can't really call any of you because i am making only 2 dollas a day. sorry! hope to hear from those of you who can call, though.
tata
linds
tata
linds
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