Inflation....it's an equity issue

Ghana Cedis

This year's trip is the first practicum in Ghana that has occurred since the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to departing Canada, our instructor Jeanette discussed the uncertainties that came with starting up again after three years away. One of the areas that was uncertain was what inflation would look like on the ground in Ghana and what the costs would be.

When we arrived, Jeanette told us the prices we were seeing were around two to three times more expensive than the last time UBC Okanagan had a nursing practicum here in 2020. The current exchange rate for Canadian dollars to Ghana cedis is roughly one CAD to nine cedis. During the last trip the exchange rate was roughly one CAD to four cedis. This meant, we were going to be okay.  Our budget, created on what could be called a "best guess" would cover everything we required.  

The bottom line is the decrease in the value of Ghana’s currency with the increased prices of goods that have come with inflation is not having an effect on the students in this practicum or at UBC.  We carry on as we always have.  The overall cost for UBC and the students is still relatively equal to those prior to 2020. However, this shift has had a direct impact on the people of Ghana. The cost of living has increased, while the wages do not reflect this. The cost of living has climbed, and while we are unaffected here,  the burden of inflation is being felt by the people in Ghana. To see this direct experience of inequity has been eye opening.  

Shopping in the market

 This financial strain can be seen in the healthcare system, as many people struggled to afford healthcare prior to recent inflation, and this struggle has only been amplified.

 

We visited the Shekinah Clinic to introduce this year's group of students and meet Mariama, who runs the clinic. The clinic was founded and continues to serve the mentally ill and destitute of Tamale. The clinic is completely funded by donations and run by volunteers. Mariama explained that inflation has resulted in a decrease in donations to the clinic, and they have struggled to provide care to their clients. Those that used to donate are now struggling with their own costs of living and cannot spare as much for the clinic.

 

Ghana has been disproportionally affected by inflation in comparison to Canada. These effects have had a direct impact on the people’s health and the healthcare system as a whole.  My best guess, is this experience is similar in other low and middle income countries.  This is a perfect example of global health inequity. 

 

Shopping at Colwood Women's Collaborative

Mika, 4th year BSN student 

Where it begins....

Entering the Castle

Hello family, friends, and interested readers,

Welcome to Cape Coast, where we are reminded of the deep and dark colonial history that continues to carry long-lasting implications throughout Ghana and Africa. From Accra, we traveled in our van for about 3.5 hours through the urban city scape to lush rainforests and ocean views until we arrived at the heart of the transatlantic slave trade, Elmina. The town of Elmina is primarily economically sustained by fishing and tourism in present day, which we picked up on while driving through to get to the grand castle. Fishing boats line the main channel with various market shops perched facing the streets. As we pulled our hot and tired limbs out of the van, we were quickly greeted with local sellers of African art, jewelry, and shells, eager to say hello and get our names. We eventually made our way to the tall white walls, stopping to acknowledge our reason for being at the castle: to learn and understand the slave trade, and its continued impact on the country.

The Church

Our hearts ache experiencing this space. As we were lead through dungeons, small locked rooms for those cast out, and then the governor's room, we could smell the pain and terror of those who were forced through or died here, possibly at our very feet. In this beautiful and grand building from outside, it is difficult to picture all the things that went on within its walls, a church built standing in the middle of it all.

Originally built by the Portuguese traders in 1482 for the gold trade, Elmina castle was captured by the Dutch in the 1600s to serve for the slave trade, and who later sold it to the British in the 1800s. It was the first point of European contact and first slave trading post in all of sub-Saharan Africa. For nearly 4 centuries, millions of slaves were traded through Elmina. I can see the 150+ women crammed in the dungeon, no space to even lie down. Outbreaks of diseases like malaria and yellow fever were common. 

Door of no Return

A staircase exists directly from the governor's chamber to the women's dungeon below, to ease his ability to sexually exploit the women. Those outcast by the governor or guards were left to die alone in smaller chambers or in the women's dungeons, chained in the sun. Our tour guide led us through "the door of no return": the well-known gateway through which slaves boarded ships to the European colonies in the New World. We peered out to the ocean through the opening and took in this reality. Their only connection to home were marks on their face called traveling marks, connecting them to their home village and representing where they are from to others.

The slave trade overall continues to impact the institutional, economic, social, and political climate of Africa. When slaves were being selected, it was often the strong farmers in Northern communities that were taken because of their capacity to do the hard work that was desired. Estimates suggest that Africa's population was half of what it would have been in the 1800s, had the slave trade not occurred. Poverty is prevalent throughout Ghana. Many countries from which the highest amount of people were taken are some of the poorest today based on economic development. The slave trade shapes the current climate of ethnic diversity, prevalence of conflict, and social development of communities, forming the fabric of present African society.

View from the Courtyard

In an attempt to capture the feeling of being in this space, we share these words:

Big white walls
500+ years standing and preserved
Shackles and chains haunt the corridors, that once entrapped lives
We pass through freely with our cold water and cameras, our privilege
Try to take it in
Heavy weights and buckets of pain
Unsettling suffering in the air
Stepping into rooms that were filled with thousands of souls, pails in the corners
Sun beaming, sweat drips down backs
Women were raped here
Humans died here
Faces were shipped off to the new world
For what
Why
European power, colonization, and universal greed
Power and privilege foster systems of oppression
Why why why why
What do we do now

The Church and Courtyard

A soft breeze began to blow at the end of our tour. Mixed emotions flooded our hearts and minds, and eerie silence lingered among our group. Nana, our guide, with wisdom and softness, stated, "these things are not told to bring shame or guilt. They are told as part of our collective history, to prevent such things from occurring in the future". Likewise, this is where we end too. On a note with which we may build a brighter future: hope. May these words not harden your heart or bring shame and guilt, but lead you to love with greater perseverance for a better tomorrow.

The Breeze

Katrina and Sophia-Grace, 4th Year BSN Students

Three Long Years.....

 

My name is Chloe I am registered nurse and I have  the pleasure of travelling with Jeanette and the fourth year nursing students to Ghana for the second time. It has taken me three years to reflect on this unique experience.

My group in 2020

The year 2020, fourth year practicum arrives and we can’t wait to immerse ourselves in what is the country of Ghana.

Whispers, and unsettling energy exists when we arrive to Tamale. Ignoring our intuition and sensing something unknown, we continue planning the days ahead. I remember this moment. Warm Breeze passes through while being told we are to be sent home. Exhaustion and heat takes over me as I try and process this information, it all felt overwhelming. Goals, aspirations and expectations lost in a single moment.

However looking back now there was a much bigger picture to be seen. An unwieldy weight of what this new illness means to this country, to the people of Ghana, and to the world.

There is one word that comes to mind the days leading up to our departure, and that is fear. Fear of this new unknown illness, fear from the locals of the traveler, the ‘carrier’. Fear of what will become of our brothers and sisters, allies that have been built and relationships that bonded us. Small shops once beloved were hastily moving us out the door.

Airports were frantic, distressed people and  hazmat suits flooded the terminals. We relied on each other, we made it home and it is important to strongly recognize the work it took for Jeanette Vinek, UBCO and GoGlobal to get us home quick and safely.

And the rest, well you know, we all lived through our own experiences of the past 3 years.

COVID-19 illnesses in Ghana were few, for some precautions were taken, others their daily lives continued on. Even though illness did not overtake the country, the financial repercussions were catastrophic and continue to linger. Prices on all goods and services have risen 100-150% while wages stay the same and store fronts closed their doors for good. And while education and public health focused on the virus or stopped all together, there was a noted increase in other medical illnesses such as HIV in rural settings.

What has remained the same is the strong, loving, and honourable spirits of the Ghanaian people and we are so excited to learn and do our best to capture these moments on this blog.

 Chloe RN 

My group 2023

Let the journey begin....again!

 After 3 long years, we are finally resuming our Global Health Practicum in Northern Ghana. The Covid19 pandemic has pushed healthcare systems to their breaking point and it has not been easy on our partners in Ghana.   It will be good to reconnect and continue doing our good work together.  

Our group this year is small but mighty!  5 students and 1 alumni.  They've all taken a Global Health course, an Advanced Global Health Elective, have spent an intensive week in seminars to prepare them for the local context, and have packed the supplies we'll be bringing with us.

 I invite you to follow along on our journey.   It can be a difficult one, and sometimes it helps to know our loved ones back home are paying attention.

Let the journey begin....

Jeanette Vinek

Associate Professor of Teaching

UBC Okanagan

School of Nursing