VT College of Science Quarterly August 2014 Vol. 2 No. 1 | Seite 15
see people who are overweight in
Ghana, diabetes and hypertension
is common because of the sugary
fruits and salt which is served with
every meal.
There are far more serious
shortcomings in the community
besides hypertension, diabetes, and
malaria, however.
We made house visits for those
who could not come to the clinic
because of problems such as elephantitis, strokes, and an inability
to get out of bed. Even with Ghana’s national health care, it costs 6
Ghanaian dollars for transportation
to get to a hospital.
We asked people if they had the
money to save their own life, and
the response was almost always no.
Sometimes they had the money,
but getting to a hospital wasn’t a priority. It
doesn’t make sense to cure a disease if there is
no money to buy food or water.
What is more confusing is that I’m interacting
with at least one person each day who is more
than 100 years old. How is it my own mother
wasn’t able to make it to 53 with all resources
available to her, yet women in Nanaben who
are constantly worried about having clean
water live to 100 or more?
How can life be so unfair, so misconstrued,
so equal, but yet so unequal? These must be
the questions my mother faced as a teacher
of less privileged children; using her talents
on children who may not even remember her
relentless will to better the world.
I came to the same realization that she must
have come to a long time ago -- I mustn’t take
myself too seriously in my attempts to change
the world. I must be content with the way the
world is and let it be. Despite this, I don’t think
of my efforts as wasteful and my attitude is not
of one giving up.
Most of the students who have come to
Ghana are pre-med and the trip provides a lot
of insight to the lifestyle of a doctor and gives
great opportunities for shadowing along with
community service.
I’m always asked what my most memorable
experience was. There are many that stand out
such as meeting the centenarians; receiving
gifts from people who have nothing; touching
Oben’s life; and making life-long friends with
everyone on the trip. However, one moment
possible to his home and maybe it will provide
stands alone. During a home visit, three of
him easier days from here on out.
us spoke with a man in his dirt floor hut and
My short and very condensed story ends
asked him about his life and how he survives
here with much joy and pleasure to meet
each day. At the end of a translator-delayed
conversation we asked him if he had any ques- such great people and make some of the best
memories that I will hold close to my heart
tions for us and suddenly he started to speak
for as long as I live. I plan to go on at least one
English.
He asked three questions. The first, “Why are more trip before I graduate and build on my
experiences and life skills. Thanks for reading!
you here in Ghana?” I respond, “We are here
to help.” Next he states it’s not cheap to travel Madasi pa!
to Ghana and asks, “Who pays for
your plane ticket?” I tell him we each
do.” Finally he asks, “Who pays for
all this medicine you bring?” Again,
I respond, “We do.” After this, tears
stream down his face as he thanks
us for helping his country because
he is so aware and knowledgeable to
know that the people of Ghana are
in serious need. It was overwhelmingly to run into someone who
understood the situation and knew
exactly where we were coming from.
After more than 500 patients, as
our service days ended in Ghana, we
closed our clinic and participated in
a closing ceremony along the lines
of the one th at welcomed us. Saying
goodbye to my dear friend Oben
was very difficult. I gave Oben my
favorite hat so he could be cool on
hot days. I hugged him goodbye
and returned to my bus to leave him
forever. Sometimes I like to think
The author, Kody Cobb, and Oben showing his Hokie spirit.
he took his new hat and ran as fast as
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