Recently my mother complained of a sharp pain in her right eye. Knowing how important good vision is to the quality of life, a complete eye exam was scheduled and she saw an ophthalmologist the next day. We were both relieved to learn her eye pain was merely a symptom of dry eye. But the experience highlighted the importance of finding access to basic health care with affordable options. In Ghana, however, many citizens who need basic medical assistance may not receive the help they need at an affordable cost. So when a group of students met at BarCamp Diaspora (a think tank event organized by people interested in generating ideas on conducting business in Ghana) during the summer of 2009 in Washington DC, healthcare was brought to the table. The conversation occurred between proactive and progressive minded young students and led to the creation of an organization called REACH-Ghana.
REACH, which stands for Representatives for Equal Access to Community Health-care (Ghana), was established to provide Ghanaians with access to basic health care. Obaasema sat down for an interview with Seyram Avle, REACH’s Communications and Information Officer, who is currently pursuing a doctorate in Communication Studies at the University of Michigan. Avle’s bio notes that her “interest in REACH comes from her belief that much can be achieved when research and policy incorporate existing knowledge from the communities they are focused on.” After the initial BarCamp discussion, members immediately began planning to develop a focus on the Diaspora. Students, doctors and other healthcare workers from all over the world mobilized to offer their specific life experiences to help the organization grow.
Avle noted that organization strives to bridge the gap between ideas and groundwork. In other words, the ideas generated from discussions are backed up with action plans and programs. So what exactly are some of the ideas and issues the organization will tackle? Three of them include: HIV prevention, malaria prevention and youth mental health.
The HIV intervention program, which focuses on Ghana’s eastern region with the highest infection rate, will act as a case study, offering REACH an opportunity to learn. Community members will be screened, then educated along with health workers. Avle stressed, “Our goal is not to test people then leave. When we leave, they (community workers) can do the next step.” So community involvement is important. She also explained that the employment rate is connected to the spread of HIV. To combat the rate of infection, jobs will be created through partnerships with community officials.
One of the most exciting aspects of the organization is the information that will be collected from the program surveys and research conducted. The cooperation fostered between members with similar interest will offer resources to help with research, develop connections within the health community and networking within the broader community. Ultimately, the research will bring people interested in health care together to publish information that can be used to help develop successful programs. For example, the HIV Intervention Program will use lessons learned from the initial summer program. This will help the organization move forward armed with the information REACH members have gleaned from the work they have done.
Regarding specific strategies employed to ensure community involvement, Avle highlighted that talent retention is crucial. REACH plans to recruit more healthcare workers in Ghana who live and work there. Though membership is currently heavy on students currently in medical school or who have just started working, she added that there is an advisory board of doctors in place. Another strategy emphasizes student involvement in Ghana. In other words, to drum up community support, REACH will “engage students in higher education (and) find young people interested in health care issues.” Avle further explained, “They can influence other young people if you have enough to eventually get older people with more authority to listen.” Finally, forging a relationship with chiefs and people in higher strata (which ties into the country’s respect for hierarchy) and developing an open line of communication with the healthcare community already in place are two additional ways of ensuring community participation in REACH initiatives.
REACH-Ghana may appear to have some lofty goals but there are mechanisms set up to ensure that measurable progress is reached. By incorporating the community, the organization offers the people of Ghana the chance to work together to improve healthcare on their own terms. Visit www.reachghana.org to learn more about the organization and find ways to get involved.