Unity Clinic....Chanshegu

Unity Clinic

Welcome to Chanshegu, a village located in the Volta Basin just outside of central Tamale. Rich in love and appreciation for community members, the village shines brightly through its people. 

UBC Okanagan Nursing students and faculty have been working with the village and Ghanaian colleagues here for over 10 years in hopes of being able to build and hand over a community health clinic.

Parts of the clinic are complete and were being used for health screening and education.  However, during the covid-19 pandemic, progress on the clinic came to a halt and certain dynamics affected staffing. Evidently, community access to healthcare and development of the clinic was significantly impacted over the last 3 years.

The Chief's Compound

As we drove to Chanshegu, our professor Jeanette, who has been working with and alongside the local villagers for many years, noticed that there had been a significant amount of development since she was last here 3 years ago. As you know, in 2020 UBCO students were sent home due to the pandemic, but before going home the students were fortunate enough to meet the now late Chief of Chanshegu, who had a longstanding strong and trusting relationship with Jeanette and UBCO. The passing of the Chief has led to a two-year appointing (enskinning) of the new Chief who we were able to meet. The presence of a new Chief has now allowed space for building a new relationship and trusting alliance with the village of Chanshegu.

Drummers Greeting the Chief

Before we could begin anything in Chanshegu, we needed to greet the new Chief. Our dear friends Kassim and Hamza assisted in setting up the meeting. Collectively, we approached the village and were warmly greeted. Firstly, we greeted the Elders, approaching them low to show respect and using local "hellos/how are you" before sitting. After greeting the Elders, we followed them through the huts, trees, and goats to get to the Chief's Palace. A horse inside, we entered after the Elders and awaited the Chief. We learned the horse represents strength and power within the Elders and the Chief of the village.

Now, we are here and eager to understand what the community needs and how we can move forward so that the clinic is functional and beneficial for its people. As our resources are scarce, we did not feel that it would be ethical to run health screening at the clinic this year because we have no follow up support or resources to offer villagers. We needed more time to organize people to help with screening, translation, and determine follow up supports. And, we recognized, doing nothing isn't an option.  We need to re-establish our relationship.  So, with the new Chief's support, Elders, and local villagers, we all organized a community day for celebration and to inform the community of the plans ahead. 

Before we discuss the plans going forward, we must describe this beautiful day of celebration. The sun shined through the clouds as we cleaned the clinic, picked rubbish from the grounds,  and cleared the outside space for pavilions and chairs with the villagers. As the Chief was drummed in, Elders alongside, the people gathered and listened to the beating of hands against drums. Like water running down a mountain, children, women, and men of all ages trickled in and joined in the celebration, embracing the offering of music and connection.

Drumming and Dancing

Drumming and Dancing

The cultural dancers so beautifully and artistically moved about the dust, chiming to the drums with metal instruments that rang with each movement.  We were invited into the circle, and we did our best!  The day grew hotter and it was time to begin to wrap things up. We could not miss this opportunity to address the villagers and provide some health information. So, we (nursing students) presented a health education talk on stretching to improve what they call "waist pain" here, meaning lower back pain. The villagers are often farming and working their bodies incredibly hard, women commonly carrying heavy weights of materials on their heads and sweeping with bent backs. The examples and stretching practice were well received with many giggles and much laughter.  Even the Chief participated and was a role model to the community, twisting his arms back and forth along with us. Having the Chief participate in our exercise was an immense gesture, and represented him as an example for the community to follow. We must thank our dear friends Kasim and Hamza, for supporting and coordinating many pieces needed for this day. We must also thank the new Chief, who clearly embodies the similar values as the previous Chief.

Jeanette addressing community

The goal in Chanshegu is to hand the clinic over to Ghana Health Services, so that it may be staffed by local healthcare workers, rather than be dependent on outside nursing students who come and go each year. It needs to be run by people here, who know and live in the community, so that the needs of the community are best understood and a trusting relationship formed (grassroots approach). Construction on the clinic began about 10 years ago when the main clinic building was put up, brick by brick. There is a second building, that locals call "the detention center". This ward will be beneficial for both mothers and families, in addition to serving those needing closer clinical monitoring.

Our relationship with the Chanshegu community and community health nurses will only grow stronger and more resourceful over time, and we are looking forward to the detention center to finish development and watching the community grow together as a whole.

Kassim and the Squad

Posted by Katrina and Chloe