Narkwa

  • Overview
  • Medical
  • Water
  • Business
  • Public Health

Overview

Narkwa is located near the coast in the Central Region of  Ghana. A typical house in Narkwa is made of concrete blocks, mud (adobe), or wood. People in Narkwa are primarily dedicated to farming and fishing. There is a kindergarten, primary school, and junior high school in Narkwa. There is a polyclinic located in the community. There are 3 standpipes located in the community that provide access to safe drinking water to 70% of homes in Narkwa. Only around 1% of homes have their own toilet facilities. There is no community bank in Narkwa that offers savings and loans services. The community expressed that their top needs are household toilets, a market, and a community bank.

District: Ekumfi

Region: Central

Homes : 700
Population : 4634
Water System : Yes, but inadequate
Community Bank : No
Electricity : Yes
Health Center : Yes
Midwife at clinic : Yes, 2
Homes with a toilet facility : 1%
Education : Up to junior high
Nearest GB Lodging Facility : Weda Lodge

Medical

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

HEALTH CARE ACCESS:

Brigaders shadow GB Ghana Medical Program Manager, Dr. Cornelius, as he provides a patient consultation at Narkwa’s Health Center

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.

Narkwa has a Health Center in the community. The most common illnesses in Narkwa are malaria, coughs, and arthritis.

272

Volunteers

3542

Patient Consultations

827

Vision Screenings Provided

49

Health Education Workshops

BRIGADE INFORMATION

Brigaders lead a workshop with a nurse outside Narkwa’s Health Center

Medical Brigade clinics are hosted in Narkwa’s Health Center. Volunteers assist local doctors and community nurses to serve patients at each station of the clinic. Each day of the brigade, an average of 5 educational health workshops are facilitated with the clinic’s patients.

  • AVERAGE PATIENTS ATTENDED: 890
  • NEARBY COMMUNITIES SERVED: Nanabin, Atwa, Ebuakwa

MEDICAL VOLUNTEERS IN NARKWA:

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
Samuel Merritt University Medical Brigade April 2013 27 California State University Bakersfield Medical Brigade August 2013 39
Wayne State University Medical July 2017 35 University of Missouri Medical May 2018 32
San Jose State University & St. Louis College of Pharmacy Medical Brigade January 2019 35 University of Washington Professional Schools Medical Brigade June 2019 27
University of Texas Austin Medical January 2020 18 Texas State University Medical and University of Connecticut TeleBrigade August 2021 21
Virginia Tech Medical Brigade January 2022 12 University of Washington Professional Schools Medical July 2022 26
North Texas Medical July 2022 26

Water

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Narkwa 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 : Boreholes
Homes connected to water : N/A
Water Council : No

Business

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Narkwa 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, fishing
Existing microenterprises : Fishing businesses

Public Health

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Narkwa 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 : wood, mud bricks

Local Reference Points

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

  • Feature