-Akan Proverb
Malaria:
The natural distribution of malaria is contingent on climate, particularly on temperature, humidity, and precipitation. Butre's geography contributes to its exceptional problem with malaria. Overall, the Western Region of Ghana accumulates the most precipitation in the country (3). Additionally, there are other determinant factors unique to Butre that make it a high-risk malaria vector.
The lagoon in Butre is one of its primary geographic features. The large part of the community relies on the lagoon for bathing, cleaning, and gathering drinking water. The lagoon is a fresh, stagnant body of water that acts as a mosquito breeding site. As you can deduce from the map to the right, Ghana, as a whole, has marked problems with malaria. Because of the lagoon and Butre's geographical position in, malaria is an exceptional problem in the community.
BEHC plans on examining the demographic, socioeconomic, and ecological factors of malaria transmission in the Butre community by conducting surveys. These surveys will help us gauge the community's pre-existing knowledge on malaria, preventative measures, and grasp what the typical community member's exit strategy is if they themselves or a family member contracts malaria-that is, are most individuals prepared monetarily to undertake medical fees or transport expenses, would they readily visit the hospital or delay treatment? If so, what indicators do they wait for that urge them to seek treatment? These responses will help us craft a workshop/seminar that we will host in conjunction with outside supporting local or international NGOs, medical professionals, volunteers and specific government ministries. The purpose of the workshop/seminar is to eradicate myths regarding malaria (an interesting case study in Uganda that examines local misconceptions of malaria contraction: When Eating Mangoes Becomes the Cause of Malaria), exchange knowledge not only concerning what preventative measures are available, but how to use these methods properly (i.e. ensuring that the insecticide treated net (ITN) is tucked into the bed to guarantee pests won't fly under the net), and ultimately help the local Butre citizens that attend the workshop/seminar become advocates for their family, friends, neighbors, and fellow community members. At the end of the proposed two-hour workshop/seminar, each participant will receive one mosquito net* for no cost, which will protect individuals especially during that rainy season (approximately April to August).
As the allAfrica.com article, "When Eating Mangoes Becomes the Cause of Malaria" attests, the availability and dissemination of information is not necessarily the problem. Rather, the problem often is how the content is not effectively communicated and "packaged" for the ordinary person to understand. Therefore, while our surveys will be written, we will be accompanied by a native Fante speaker when distributing the surveys to ensure that the survey recipients fully understand the questions, which could possibly be hindered by language barriers, cultural differences, and so on. Likewise, the workshops/seminars will also be attended by native Fante speakers that can offer translation and interpretation services.
BEHC plans on examining the demographic, socioeconomic, and ecological factors of malaria transmission in the Butre community by conducting surveys. These surveys will help us gauge the community's pre-existing knowledge on malaria, preventative measures, and grasp what the typical community member's exit strategy is if they themselves or a family member contracts malaria-that is, are most individuals prepared monetarily to undertake medical fees or transport expenses, would they readily visit the hospital or delay treatment? If so, what indicators do they wait for that urge them to seek treatment? These responses will help us craft a workshop/seminar that we will host in conjunction with outside supporting local or international NGOs, medical professionals, volunteers and specific government ministries. The purpose of the workshop/seminar is to eradicate myths regarding malaria (an interesting case study in Uganda that examines local misconceptions of malaria contraction: When Eating Mangoes Becomes the Cause of Malaria), exchange knowledge not only concerning what preventative measures are available, but how to use these methods properly (i.e. ensuring that the insecticide treated net (ITN) is tucked into the bed to guarantee pests won't fly under the net), and ultimately help the local Butre citizens that attend the workshop/seminar become advocates for their family, friends, neighbors, and fellow community members. At the end of the proposed two-hour workshop/seminar, each participant will receive one mosquito net* for no cost, which will protect individuals especially during that rainy season (approximately April to August).
*ITNs limited to one per household depending on numbers of attendees. There will be at least one guaranteed to each household "representative."
I work three jobs. I work as a fisherman; I boat canoes in the lagoon for tourists; I also tend to my cassava farm in the hillside. It's not easy. -Tony, a friend in Butre
Tony’s story is common among Butre residents. Most local people in Butre, particularly men as the breadwinners of the household, are obligated to have more than one job in order to make ends meet. Therefore, the general welfare and maintenance of good health in Butre is necessary inasmuch as it maintains productivity. The unsanitary conditions in Butre, however, undercuts this productivity by causing people to become sick and contract potentially serious illnesses. Moreover, individuals often delay seeking treatment. The nearest hospital has no direct road; rather, it is typically reached by foot, which takes approximately two hours.
BEHC is spearheading a campaign to boost public cleanliness through two projects: the placement of additional bore-holes and the construction of pit latrines (a.k.a. toilet facilities).
Currently, the local people rely on one bore-hole, unsanitary wells, and the lagoon to fetch water. The lagoon is a busy hub in the community, as it is used for bathing, gathering water for cooking, and other purposes. The popularity of this lagoon for daily activities leads to its contamination by means of urination and dumping. This type of environment that is subject to such "population density" will host water-borne diseases. Thus, the lagoon is not a reliable, sanitary water source.
On the other hand, there are plenty of wells in the community that are often "individually-owned," but open to the community. Most of them are relatively restricted as a result of their location and accessibility to the village. Generally, the water that the wells provide is too salty attributing to its proximity to the nearby ocean. Furthermore, the water, when fetched, is a dark brown color and is not meeting sanitation standards.
Polytanks, one of the popular water tank brands in Ghana, are used by businesses, universities, and households throughout the country. They are used as means to store water and are refilled depending on the size of the community its serving, tapping fees, and the capacity of the storage tank itself. Brendan and Julie intend on gathering the funds to install a water tank in the center of the community. Water will be brought in from outside communities that have been purified, which will provide a safer, cleaner alternative to the lagoon and wells.
We understand that community development projects regarding water systems can be problematic due to community definitions of water rights-that is, whose water is it and who has the right to improve the situation? Currently, the community is using wells and the lagoon, which are not controlled by any single party (i.e. the local government, a local water committee, etc.) to fetch water. We are handling these questions of resource politics by talking with the Village Queen Mothers and the Chief (traditional authorities) as to the best way to maintain the water tank as a community resource. We will enforce a tapping fee for individuals, yet this will be nominal compared to the sicknesses that individuals could contract relying on the other community water sources. This insignificant fee will also ensure that the water tank, after we leave the region, will remain economically sustainable.
Additionally, BEHC's second sanitation initiative is the construction of more pit latrines. Pit latrines are man-made toilet facilities that serve waste management purposes. The majority of Butre constituents do not possess their own toilet facility in their household. There is currently one community pit-latrine in Butre, but it is inadequate to serve the needs of the entire community. The introduction of communal pit latrines is still relatively "new" in the community in that there are not enough developed for the entire community without over-accommodating the facilities. To this end, most individuals typically urinate or defecate either outside of their homesteads in the village or take refuge to "the bush"-the outskirts of the community near wooded, less populated areas. Urination in the village is not in conformity with sanitary conduct because it increases waste, attracts pests, and also increases the chance that individuals will get sick.
We plan on constructing two new pit latrines, which will curb the amount of exposed waste in the community, provide a comfortable place for individuals, particularly young adult women, to use toilet facilities that they weren't afforded previously, and will reinforce better sanitation standards.
The construction of the two pit latrines is estimated to begin in mid-May and be completed in mid-July.
BEHC is spearheading a campaign to boost public cleanliness through two projects: the placement of additional bore-holes and the construction of pit latrines (a.k.a. toilet facilities).
Currently, the local people rely on one bore-hole, unsanitary wells, and the lagoon to fetch water. The lagoon is a busy hub in the community, as it is used for bathing, gathering water for cooking, and other purposes. The popularity of this lagoon for daily activities leads to its contamination by means of urination and dumping. This type of environment that is subject to such "population density" will host water-borne diseases. Thus, the lagoon is not a reliable, sanitary water source.
On the other hand, there are plenty of wells in the community that are often "individually-owned," but open to the community. Most of them are relatively restricted as a result of their location and accessibility to the village. Generally, the water that the wells provide is too salty attributing to its proximity to the nearby ocean. Furthermore, the water, when fetched, is a dark brown color and is not meeting sanitation standards.
Polytanks, one of the popular water tank brands in Ghana, are used by businesses, universities, and households throughout the country. They are used as means to store water and are refilled depending on the size of the community its serving, tapping fees, and the capacity of the storage tank itself. Brendan and Julie intend on gathering the funds to install a water tank in the center of the community. Water will be brought in from outside communities that have been purified, which will provide a safer, cleaner alternative to the lagoon and wells.
We understand that community development projects regarding water systems can be problematic due to community definitions of water rights-that is, whose water is it and who has the right to improve the situation? Currently, the community is using wells and the lagoon, which are not controlled by any single party (i.e. the local government, a local water committee, etc.) to fetch water. We are handling these questions of resource politics by talking with the Village Queen Mothers and the Chief (traditional authorities) as to the best way to maintain the water tank as a community resource. We will enforce a tapping fee for individuals, yet this will be nominal compared to the sicknesses that individuals could contract relying on the other community water sources. This insignificant fee will also ensure that the water tank, after we leave the region, will remain economically sustainable.
Additionally, BEHC's second sanitation initiative is the construction of more pit latrines. Pit latrines are man-made toilet facilities that serve waste management purposes. The majority of Butre constituents do not possess their own toilet facility in their household. There is currently one community pit-latrine in Butre, but it is inadequate to serve the needs of the entire community. The introduction of communal pit latrines is still relatively "new" in the community in that there are not enough developed for the entire community without over-accommodating the facilities. To this end, most individuals typically urinate or defecate either outside of their homesteads in the village or take refuge to "the bush"-the outskirts of the community near wooded, less populated areas. Urination in the village is not in conformity with sanitary conduct because it increases waste, attracts pests, and also increases the chance that individuals will get sick.
We plan on constructing two new pit latrines, which will curb the amount of exposed waste in the community, provide a comfortable place for individuals, particularly young adult women, to use toilet facilities that they weren't afforded previously, and will reinforce better sanitation standards.
The construction of the two pit latrines is estimated to begin in mid-May and be completed in mid-July.
Education:
Education and outreach are the backbones of BEHC. Each of the projects to be executed this summer all have educational facets, which are based on making a short-term project accrue long-term ramifications and results. Our aim is not too just give children a better and more practical education, but to also bring knowledge to the youth and adults that will allow them to address and tackle the issues facing their community on their own.
BEHC will hold one two-hour seminar/workshop every other week starting from the beginning of June. Before each seminar, a survey will be carried out to see which areas of the topic need the most attention. We will go door to door and invite all members of the community to the seminars and use the local Chief and Queen Mothers to rally support bring greater legitimacy to the forums. BEHC will bring in professionals (medical professionals, businessmen, entrepreneurs, farmers, etc.) to educate the people on the specified topics listed above. They will be an open forum, held in Fante and English, and moderated by BEHC members and community volunteers to ensure friendly and efficient communication.
Alongside our workshops, BEHC will be working extensively to develop and improve the Ghali School, a free nursery school program and after school facility for all members of the community. The school was created one year ago to provide children an educational environment that supplies free food and uniforms, which thereby reduces household financial burdens. We will assist in tutoring responsibilities at the school for the extent of the project. Additionally, we are currently corresponding with Rising Minds, an educational development NGO based in Boston, and the Save Foundation, an Accra-based NGO, to ensure the sustainability of future volunteers and sponsorship of the children. Moreover, we will provide food and more school supplies and learning materials to guarantee that the children have the proper tools to develop themselves and, in the future, their own community.
An efficiently run and community friendly, free after-school program guarantees a child's right to education and also plays a large role in developing future leaders. Where diverse knowledge and interactive education lacks in traditional schools, the Ghali School steps in with a more attention-driven, practical education atmosphere. BEHC believes that you cannot develop a country or community without first developing the minds of the people. The creation of a future class of leaders in local communities will allow the spark of conscience-driven development to not only survive, but thrive.
BEHC recognizes that independent schools established in communities that are set up as alternatives to entrenched conventional schools can create problems. Competition can arise, where parents begin to divert sending their children to government schools. The alternative school may sound attractive because it is cheaper (or perhaps is free of charge), but the government schools have the resources backed by years of establishment and partnerships with ministries of the government, local and international NGOs, and so on. BEHC is working the Ministry of Education and the local primary and JSS schools to ensure the continuing support of the government schools. The Ghali school is only to be used as an additional educational arena accommodating students after school, on weekends, or during vacations.
Reproductive Health:
There is a disproportionate representation of young females and children in the Butre community. This underlies the issue of widespread teenage pregnancy. As it is a coastal village, it is commonplace for seamen to stay in the community temporarily, impregnate young girls ages fourteen to fifteen and then depart, leaving and exacerbating the financial burdens on the future single mother. In our conversations with the Assemblywoman of the village, we were told that many of these girls do not complete Junior Secondary School (American equivalent of Junior High School). Why? For one, these young ladies are surrounded by many other women like themselves who probably can't afford to advance to Secondary School and opt for motherhood as a viable purpose. After all, we were informed on our fact-finding mission that only about five children from Butre continue on to High School-level education offered in Agona, the largest nearby town. Moreover, although there is a small health clinic in the community, it is not equipped with contraception. This problem regarding accessibility to "protection," as well as its visibility, as caused young females to more or less not consider using it to protect themselves against pregnancy at an early age.
To this end, BEHC has been corresponding with Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana staff members and representatives* to design and help initiate a peer education program in the primary and junior secondary schools in the Butre Community. A peer education program will place the central role and responsibility of spreading necessary information about reproductive health and justice to young females and males, themselves, to deliver to their own peers. Peer education programs are beneficial in this type of environment for a few reasons: 1) as we realize that we, ourselves, are temporary presences in the community, we would like the knowledge that we disseminate to remain sustainable. By doing a peer education program, we are directly empowering selected members of the youth to digest this information and encouraging youth to have these dialogues that may otherwise not be taking place, 2) although we have financial constraints as students and volunteers, peer education programs do not incur a significant cost because the strategy rests more on delivering information rather than expensive, one-time workshops, and 3) it has been proven that peer education programs are the most effective way to reach out to youth. This may be because the person delivering the information can relate to the concerns, fears, and so on of the audience they are presenting to. It fosters a safer, more comfortable atmosphere that less resembles lecturing and more facilitates open conversation.
BEHC, in conjunction with PPAG representatives, will talk with the respective teachers at the levels and schools about which students would be attractive candidates to be peer mentors of the reproductive health program. Each class will have two to three students nominated; these openings are not only available to girls. Once the students are nominated, they will undergo a one week long workshop, which will educate them on various topics, from what contraception is available to STIs and HIV/AIDS awareness to rape to abortion, family planning, and so on. Under the supervision of BEHC and PPAG, these students will grow to be resources for their peers in the classroom. After the training is complete, we will discuss with the teachers about the times available for these children to take the floor and share what they know. It is not yet finalized how many times a week that these peer education programs in the classrooms will be held and need to be discussed with the teachers first.
Additionally, we are corresponding with PPAG to see how we can make it easier to access contraception in the community. We have been notified that there is a PPAG mobile clinic in the Western Region; however, these plans are tentative at the moment. In the next few weeks, we hope to clarify exactly what our plans are to ameliorate accessibility politics in the community.
*Currently, those individuals that we are communicating with are staff members and representatives of PPAG; however, they are collaborating with BEHC as individuals and are not officially backed by the organization. We are working to forge an official partnership with PPAG.
Entrepreneurial Workshops:
Butre, like many other coastal villages in Ghana, suffers economically because it relies too heavily on a lack-luster fish market. Moreover, most farming practiced in this area is subsistence-based, which means little to no profit is brought home. Because of dependence of rain fall, lack of knowledge of improved farming methods, and a serious lack of capital to expand farming, Butre, like many other African communities, has the potential but lacks the resources to do better, more productive, and profitable farming. To address this problem, BEHC will carry out surveys to gain a better understanding of the market and business practices in the community, as well as investigate what resources or alternative methods can be facilitated to improve the status quo. After the surveys are complete, we will use this information to design workshops tailored to their specified interests, needs, and goals. At these workshops, community members will interact with local recruited volunteers, Ghanaian entrepreneurs, and representatives from local NGOs in hopes of promoting greater knowledge of resources-that is, where are these resources and how to use them effectively and instill power in the people to utilize these resources as a means of providing more food and security for their families.
Currently, we have one representative from GTZ, a German-backed agricultural NGO, who plans on visiting the area and providing specialized knowledge on farming.
Additionally, we are corresponding with the co-founders of Youth Coalition for Development in Accra to support our entrepreneurial workshops.
Updated: April 5, 2010.
