Akwansa Kokodo

  • Overview
  • Medical
  • Water
  • Business
  • Public Health

Overview

Akwansa Kokodo is located near the coast in the Central Region of Ghana. People in Akwansa Kokodo are primarily dedicated to farming, fish mongering, artisan crafts, and trading. There is a kindergarten, primary school, and junior high school in Akwansa Kokodo. There is a health clinic located directly in the community. Currently, there are 4 standpipes that provide access to safe drinking water to 40% of homes in Akwansa Kokodo. Around 50% of homes have their own toilet facilities. There is an existing co-op in Akwansa Kokodo that offers savings and loans services. The community expressed that their top needs are improvements to the health facility, household water connections, and teachers’ quarters for the schools.

District: Ekumfi

Region: Central

Homes : 148
Population : 607
Water System : Yes
Community Bank : Yes
Electricity : Yes
Health clinic : Yes
Midwife at clinic : No
Percent of homes with toilet facility : 50%
Education : Up to junior high
Distance from nearest GB Lodging Facility : 30-60 minutes

Medical

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

HEALTH CARE ACCESS:

Akwansa Kokodo CHPS Compound

There are two types of public health clinics available to rural Ghanaians: Health Centers and Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds. Health Centers serve large geographic areas within a district and are staffed by physicians. CHPS compounds serve small clusters of communities and are staffed by live-in nurses. The nurses provide basic services and, if capacity allows, they conduct home visits to families in the communities. 

Even with this coverage, it is important to note that medications, equipment, and essential infrastructure are often not available in these clinics and the physician density in Ghana remains around 0.2 physicians per 1,000 people. According to the World Health Organization, there should be a minimum of 2.3 physicians per 1,000 people to qualify a country as having adequate access to medical attention.

Another key factor for health care access in Ghana is insurance. Ghana’s National Health Insurance plan offers universal coverage, but few rural community members are actively enrolled. During Medical Brigades, community members are educated about the benefits of health insurance, and are encouraged to enroll (or re-enroll) in the National Health Insurance Plan.

Akwansa Kokodo has a CHPS compound in the community. The most common illnesses in Akwansa Kokodo are malaria, chest infections, and anemia.

130

Volunteers

1013

Patient Consultations

176

Vision Screenings Provided

24

Health Education Workshops

BRIGADE INFORMATION

Medical Brigaders observe a nurse providing a patient consultation in Akwansa Kokodo

Medical Brigade clinics are hosted in Akwansa Kokodo’s CHPS Compound. Volunteers assist local doctors and community nurses to serve patients at each station of the clinic. Each day of the brigade, an average of 7 educational charlas are facilitated with the clinic’s patients.

  • AVERAGE PATIENTS ATTENDED: 415
  • NEARBY COMMUNITIES SERVED: Gyinankoma, Ekotsi

MEDICAL VOLUNTEERS IN AKWANSA KOKODO

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
San Jose State University Medical Brigade May 2014 31
Seton Hall University & St. John’s University Medical Brigade May 2019 20
California State University Los Angeles, Queen Mary University of London, Southern Methodist University, & St. George’s University of London Medical Brigade August 2019 24
Ponzan Poland Medical TeleBrigade April 2022 16
Queen´s University Medical TeleBrigade May 2022 24
Central Michigan University Medical TeleBrigade May 2022 15

Water

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Akwansa Kokodo but has not yet begun with the Water Brigades program.  Now in the planning phase, implementation of a water solution will start as soon as feasible.

Water System : Yes
System Type : Standpipes & boreholes
Homes connected to water : N/A
Water Council : Yes

Business

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Akwansa Kokodo but has not yet begun with the Business Brigades program. Now in the planning phase, implementation of a micro-finance and business solution will start as soon as feasible.

Community Bank : Yes, co-op
Community Bank Members : 150
Economic Activities : farming, fish mongering
Existing microenterprises : farms & petty trading businesses

Public Health

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Akwansa Kokodo but has not yet begun with the Public Health Brigades program. Now in the planning phase, implementation of a public health solution will start as soon as feasible.

Homes with toilet facilities : 50%
Common house materials : wood, bricks, mud

Local Reference Points

View the map to see the closest volunteer lodging facilities, hospitals, and other relevant points of reference.

  • Feature