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Anirudh Sreekrishnan was a freshman at Bowdoin College in the US when he flew to Ghana in the summer of 2009. He stayed for 3 months doing health care work across the country.

"My trip to Ghana was more than I could ever imagine and I know I would not have been able to make it down here without the help of Humanity World International. If I were to describe everything I have seen and done here I would be writing a short novel, so I have done my best to try to summarize my experiences.

The purpose of my trip was to try and learn more about the Ghanaian Health Care system, The National Heath Insurance Scheme, and how this affects big urbanized areas as well as small rural communities. I flew over to Ghana thinking that I would be working in a small rural community hospital for the entire thee months, but as soon as I arrived plans began to change. After speaking with the director of Humanity World International, the organization I am working with, we re-planned my trip to best fit my goals.

I started my trip in up north in a small community called Walewale (Northern Region) and worked in a district hospital that oversees the city as well as the surrounding villages. In the hospital I mainly worked in the OPD, where I saw cases of malaria, candidias, dysentery, catter, STDs, etc. I also helped with paperwork and patient files, as well as helped with basic nurse duties like taking weight, temperature, and blood pressure. I visited the wards and lab- where it was easy to see what the hospital lacked and needed. Two Cuban doctors stationed there taught me a lot about the art of diagnosis. While in Walewale I have also had the opportunity to work in the local junior high school. Other than grading papers and sitting in on classes, I helped give a talk on STDs/AIDS/Sex and taught the teachers how to use programs on their computers like Excel in order to help them grade easier.

After a month, I traveled down south to a much larger city of Ho (Capital of the Volta Region). Here I began a series of outreach missions with a local medical team to different villages and communities all over the Volta Region. Other than simple medical attention and drug distribution, the major focus of these trips was to diagnosis eye problems. Most of the patients were farmers that rely on their eyesight to farm and provide for their families. Prescription glasses and medications were given at discounted rates and patients diagnosis with cataracts were given free surgery. I was able to go with the cataract patients to the hospital and witness a few dozen surgeries, which was absolutely incredible.

I finished my last couple weeks working in a clinic that was undergoing accreditation from the National Health Insurance Scheme. It helped me experience the Health Care system from another viewpoint. In the clinic, I helped place IVs and bandage up wounds among other things. My main priority though was working on an advertising/updating campaign for the clinic to fix the out-dated image it used to have. I made a series of brochures, ads, fliers, etc. to spread the word about the small clinic. I also updated their business cards, letterhead, mailings, etc. I even made them a new logo.

The ability to work in different places in the country has allowed me to not only travel cross-country, but also experience a culture from many different perspectives. Each region of Ghana I have visited has its own language, customs, and culture. Along with the travel comes a numerous amount of site seeing. I can now say that I have biked through the hillsides of the Central Region, went on Safari in the Upper Eastern Region, and climbed the tallest mountain in Ghana. When it comes to the animals- I have feed monkeys in Volta Region, sat on crocodiles in Upper Western Region, and was almost stampeded by wild hogs in the Upper Eastern Region. Last but not least, culturally- I have been to church services every Sunday, attended a friend’s wedding, and went to a cultural dance festival.

All and all this trip has been more than I can imagine. I feel I have seen so much in these last months than I have seen in years. I felt sad leaving, but I was also excited to return to share my experience with others. As I said before, I have been able to merely outline my trip, in order to get the full story you just have to come down here yourself".