Otuam

  • Overview
  • Medical
  • Water
  • Business
  • Public Health

Overview

Otuam is located near the coast in the Central Region of Ghana.  People in Otuam are primarily dedicated to farming and fishing. A typical house in Otuam is made of concrete blocks, mud (adobe), or wood. There is a kindergarten and primary school in Otuam. There is a health clinic located in the community. There are standpipes in the community that provide access to safe drinking water. There is a community bank in Otuam that offers savings and loans services. The community expressed that their top needs are a landing harbor for fishermen, heavy equipment for farming (eg. tractors), and a community market.

District: Ekumfi

Region: Central

Homes : 2500
Population : 10210
Water System : Yes
Community Bank : Yes
Electricity : Yes
Health Clinic : Yes
Midwife at clinic : Yes, 3
Education : Up to primary school
% of homes with a toilet facility : Unknown
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.

Otuam has a CHPS compound in the community. The most common illnesses in Otuam are malaria and respiratory infections.

269

Volunteers

3884

Patient Consultations

1007

Vision Screenings Provided

23

Health Education Workshops

BRIGADE INFORMATION

Brigaders & nurse lead a health workshop outside the Eyisam CHPS compound

Medical Brigade clinics are hosted in Otuam’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 3 educational charlas are facilitated with the clinic’s patients.

  • AVERAGE PATIENTS ATTENDED: 562

MEDICAL VOLUNTEERS IN OTUAM:

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
University of Cardiff Medical Brigade March 2013 35
Pennsylvania State University Medical Brigade May 2017 29
University of Connecticut Medical Brigade May 2018 38
University of Washington Professional Schools Medical Brigade May 2018 26
University of Connecticut Medical Brigade January 2019 30
Texas Tech University Medical Brigade May 2019 28
University of San Diego Medical January 2020 28
California State Polytechnic University Pomona Medical TeleBrigade March 2021 26
North Carolina Central University Medical May 2022 29

Water

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Otuam 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, rainwater harvest
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 Otuam 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 : small-scale trading business

Public Health

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Otuam 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 : N/A
Common house materials : concrete or mud bricks

Local Reference Points

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

  • Feature