Edumafa

  • Overview
  • Medical
  • Water
  • Business
  • Public Health

Overview

Edumafa is located near the coast in the Central Region of  Ghana. A typical house in Edumafa is made of concrete blocks, mud bricks, or wood. People in Edumafa are primarily dedicated to farming, fish mongering, and day labor. There is a health clinic located in the community. When Global Brigades began working in Edumafa, there were 4 standpipes in the community that provided access to safe drinking water. The water system was inadequate for the population and community members still had to walk a long distance to retrieve water. Around 1% of homes have their own toilet facilities. There is no community bank in Edumafa that offers savings and loans services. The community expressed that their top needs are household toilets and household water connections.

District: Ekumfi

Region: Central

Homes : 500
Population : 775
Water System : Yes (limited)
Community Bank : No
Electricity : Yes
Health Center : Yes
Midwife at clinic : No
Homes with toilet facility : 1%
Education : N/A
Nearest GB lodging facility : Weda Lodge

Medical

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

HEALTH CARE ACCESS:

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.

Edumafa has a CHPS Zone compound which is staffed by nurses, but does not have a midwife. The most common illnesses in Edumafa are malaria and arthritis.

96

Volunteers

1,591

Patient Consultations

126

Vision Screenings Provided

26

Health Education Workshops

BRIGADE INFORMATION

Brigaders observe as GB Ghana Medical Program Manager, Dr. Cornelius, provides a patient consultation at the Narkwa Health Center

Medical Brigade clinics are hosted in Edumafa’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 2 educational workshops are facilitated with the clinic’s patients.

  • AVERAGE PATIENTS ATTENDED: 441

MEDICAL VOLUNTEERS IN EDUMAFA:

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
Wayne State University Medical Brigade July 2017 35
DePaul University Medical June 2018 29
UK Professional Medical Brigade June 2019 9
University of Colorado Springs Medical Brigade January 2021 23

Water

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Edumafa 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
Homes connected to water : 1.2%
Water Council : No

Business

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Edumafa but has not yet begun with the Business Brigades program. Now in the planning phase, a market study and the establishment of a community business will start as soon as feasible.

Community Bank : No
Community Bank Members : N/A
Economic Activities : farming, fish mongering
Existing microenterprises : N/A

Public Health

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Edumafa 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 facility : 1%
Common house materials : concrete, mud bricks, wood

Local Reference Points

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

  • Feature