since 2022 i / we return to chinderi every time we travel to ghana. this is visit number four.
through an initiative by aktion volta augenklinik (ava) & german rotary volunteer doctors (grvd) i get to tinker with medical equipment from time to time, even though i more or less left this field in 2022 (to transition into teaching).
st. luke’s hospital is located in the very rural krachi nchumuru district on a peninsula of lake volta in the oti region of ghana. to get there is a five hour drive from tamale (it was longer previously, but the roads have improved over recent years).
this district has a population of about 80,000 people. agriculture, forestry, and fishing dominate the local economy.
st. luke is lucky! to have solid support from various sources.
the hospital has a dedicated eye department, comprising consulting rooms, a laser room, an operating theatre, et cetera. all built with the support of prof spitznas, ava and grvd.
over the last three years an ophthalmologist has undergone his specialty training funded by donors from germany. he is just now commencing his tenure of at least five years at this hospital.
during this visit i got to maintain laser equipment, repair slit lamps, unpack and install further equipment for the eye clinic as well as the general & maternity clinic. flourescent light units for babies with jaundice, fetal monitors, patient monitors, even an electrocardiograph. most memorable was doing this work without electricity, a headlamp instead, while outside a violent rain storm was ongoing.
not everything worked out. still trying to find a way to get 14 year old thermal printer from japan to print ultrasound images from a more modern ultrasound unit from china. unfortunately, i have not been able to obtain instructions from the manufacturer so far.
still a lot of work to do to get this hospital to where it needs to be. so, likely i’ll be back next time when i’m in ghana. possibly soon.
