Outreach: Teshie

Our group of 11 volunteers crammed into a van and rode through hectic traffic to a poor neighborhood on the outskirts of Accra called Teshie. I thought Bismark made a mistake when we pulled off a dirt road onto an even worse road that went around a school and into a field where a church building stood with an outdoor pavilion. Goats and chickens ran in horror as our van pulled up. Inside the large, cement church building were 200-250 people, mostly over the age of 40 patiently awaiting our arrival.

The ophthalmic nurse, Dennis Baah gave a short presentation about common misconceptions about treating eyes ("Do not try to treat eye problems with urine or breast milk" was one of the key objectives). After we had introduced ourselves, the patients went through a series of stations where we measured their visual acuity, received an examination by Dennis, and received eye meds and/or glasses. I spent most of my day assessing visual acuity and dispensing medicine and glasses.

The entire time, little kids would stop and stare. The brave ones would play games with us or say hello. One 3 year old girl came up from behind and grabbed my hand. She didn't know any English (they speak a language called Ga in this particular area). She spent most of the day playing in the courtyard, picking up rocks, chasing other kids, and playing peek-abo with me. Children seem more resilient here--very few cry, even if they take a tumble in the dirt.



One of the old women who helped organize the event told me that she was going to go get water, "But not the one that makes your stomach runny." She came back with bottled water. So far, my stomach is not runny.

One of the things I appreciate about the women in Ghana is their fashion sense--although glasses are not the fashion accessory of choice her, they get very particular about how they will look. We have to make sure that they don't choose the frames over their ability to see. They wear these beautiful dresses, gowns and head wear--so bright and detailed!