Since we have a large number of medical volunteers going away with us this summer to placements all over the world, I asked Anna Koh who was a Medical volunteer that recently returned from Ghana to lend some advice to the new medical volunteers who are just departing. Take it away Anna!

By Anna Koh,

My medical experience in Ghana has been the most memorable. Before my departure, I had so many expectations- as well as unexpectations- from my placement in Cape Coast. Questions that ran through my mind were “Will I benefit from this?” “What will I learn just from observing and following the physicians around the hospital?” and even “Will I fit in??” After 2 weeks, the hospital was my second home; I felt comfortable enough to roam around the hospital and join any department I wished to see. Doctors, including nurses and administrative workers, were incredibly friendly and helpful. That was an unexpected considering the large number of patients each doctor must see in a day. My expectations were to form strong relationships with the doctors and to see as much as I could were met within the three months of work. I spent one to two weeks in each department-obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics, radiology, orthopedics, and finally surgery.

In Ghana, it is tradition and respected to have large families and therefore majority of women have more than 5 children in their families. Family planning was one of the major issues in the department of OBGYN especially when a woman was at high risk of hemorrhaging and, as a result, death. Statistically, it has been known that infant and maternal mortality has been quite high in Ghana. For these complications between culture and medicine, there is a high demand for doctors in OBGYN. Everyday, there was just so much to see, in the wards and in the surgical theater, for it was such a large department. This is a one of the places I would encourage all volunteers to see in Ghana.

More photos and advice after the jump

At Pediatrics, I began to learn that children were more prone of being infected with Malaria, Gastroenteritis, and Typhoid because of their suppressed immune system and ongoing biological development. It was amazing to see these children with such high fevers so strong and happy.

Anna in Radiology

At the small department of Radiology, we had the luxury of an air-conditioned room but an old yet useful ultrasound machine that helped diagnose over 40 patients a day. We were dealing with a wide range of different cases from obstetric scan, for fetus age and condition, to abdominal scans, for gallbladder stones and jaundice, to pelvic scans, for fibroids in the uterus and prostate complications. There were endless complications that were to be seen in this department.

It was most difficult to join the surgical theater as the surgical team required strict sanitation practice to prevent transmission in and out of the theater. Not only was that a major issue, they were always lacking surgical wear! (I would highly recommend volunteers to bring their own scrubs). Luckily, I was still able to watch over 15 different surgical operations. In the end I learned that it was effort that got me to where I was (more than anything). From that, I was pleased to notice that doctors felt more encouraged to teach me and show me more. That was more than I expected. Also, when in doubt, always ask questions even if you think they are stupid ones…it’ll only show that you actually want to learn.

Anna with the Surgical team of Dr. Chernev, Dr. Thomas and Dr. Toboh

Aside from my medical experience, my host family was so lovely. I will always feel nostalgic for food-spring rolls, fanice (frozen vanilla yogurt), and homemade fried yam balls- Ghanian music, tros-tros, and the feeling of a celebrity. I hope, one day, I may come back with a medical degree to contribute even more.