Fund Community Health Screening in Madina, Ghana

Objective:  Discuss plans for the upcoming community health screening project with representatives from Vision Springs. To ascertain the support that Vision springs can provide to our screening program.

Report submitted by: Risata Kufuor (Intern)

I. Procedure

- 11:30  AM - DEPARTURE: Departure of  AFAWI  Team  from  Adenta,  Ghana  to  East legon, Ghana

-  12:00 PM – TEAM ARRIVAL - The AFAWI team arrived at Mensvic grand hotel and met the vision springs representatives.

- 12:30 PM - 13:30 PM – DISCUSSIONS: We discussed plans for the upcoming community health screening project, including dates, proposed communities and screening tests. Vision springs spoke about the work they do and detailed the help they could provide to us. 

- 13:30 PM - 14:00 PM – CONCLUSION: The meeting was concluded and the AFAWI team returned to the office.

I. Findings

A summary of the points discussed with Vision Springs is as follows;

• Vision springs recommends the following per day of our screening program; 2 optometrists, 1 pre-screening nurse, 1 opthalmic nurse.
• They will provide the above personnel at a discounted cost for us; Optometrist GHc350, Opthalmic nurse GHc250, Pre-screening nurse GHc150. In total the staff we would require would cost GHc1100 per day.
• One Optometrist can be provided free of charge if we order 500 glasses which is their minimum order quantity.
• They provide 2 types of glasses; reading glasses and pop-in lenses which are corrective (for short and long sightedness).
• Reading glasses cost GHc8 each, the pop-in lenses cost GHc25 each. These are specially discounted prices for AFAWI.
• In order to provide the pop-in lenses for the community, extra testing would be required namely, the use of an auto-refractor.
• The auto-refractor is available for hire at GHc500 per day.
• Vision springs has suggested that we consider screening 2 communities in one day to save costs.
• The vision springs staff would bring their own tools and need nothing else in addition apart from table and chairs as work stations.
• If we would like to provide eye drops (a variety including antibiotic and anti-allergic) for the community, they can speak with an external provider to bring these for us, either at a bulk pre-order cost or charged per use.
• The vision springs consultants have suggested that we consider the following organisations as sources of funding for our work in general; Standard chartered bank, The office of the 2^nd lady.

Links:

• More information on this project on here
• Check our website for more information on our work

Report  - Visit to the Madina Health Directorate 

Objective:  Discuss plans for the upcoming community health screening projects with the relevant authorities. Gauge the level of support that can be provided to us and identify what we need to provide for the program.

Venue: Madina health directotate, Madina, Ghana  

Team:  Philip Kwesi Agyei (Managing Director AFAWI), Risata Kufuor (Intern) , Isla Leckie (Intern)

Present:  DDNS, Health promotion officer, Public health officer

Absent:  N/A

I. Procedure 

- 10:00  AM - DEPARTURE: Departure of  AFAWI  Team  from  Adenta,  Ghana  to  Madina, Ghana

-  10:30 AM – TEAM ARRIVAL AND INTRODUCTIONS -  The AFAWI team entered the health directorate office and were introduced to the staff in the office, Philip then introduced AFAWI and our work

- 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM – DISCUSSIONS: We discussed plans for the upcoming health screening projects and the team at the health directorate gave their input.  Topics discussed included proposed dates, communities to target, tests kits and staff that can be provided by the health directorate.

II. Findings 

1. Summary 

The health directorate are happy to support us to provide the screening when we are ready to commence it. We have been told to expect approximately 200 people.

The health directorate can provide the following for free;

• 100 Malaria test kits
• 100 HIV test kits
• 100 Hepatitis B test kits
• Hepatitis B vaccines
• Childhood vaccinations
• 7 health personnel including; 2 for labs, 2 for vaccinations, 2 for counselling and CHO’s.

The kits will be immediately. The Hepatitis B and childhood vaccinations may take longer to obtain. The health directorate have provided contact details for suppliers (namely BlCF and Ediplus) of the above testing kits required as well as; diabetes and blood pressure screening tools. 

We are allowed to bring our own personnel and staff to expand the project as we please. We have begun to reach out to the above providers to write a budget for the screening program.

We have to provide another letter detailing our plans and take it to their office tomorrow. 

2. Conclusion

The Team of AFAWI continues to work on the preparation for the implementation phase of the project and continues to reach out to possible funders. At the moment, the main challenge is to get the neccessary funding for the project.