Greetings from Ghana! 

I’m happy to be enjoying my first visit to this lively West African country.  Ghana is a country which immediately greets travelers with colourful sights and sounds and a warm and friendly population. 

Yet while enjoying the overall excitement one is soon faced with the fact that much poverty and hardship still exists here.  Many Ghanaians – particularly those living in remote and rural areas - do not enjoy ready access to healthcare.  For many children born with cleft lip and palate here, there is simply no affordable option for surgery or rehabilitation.

I’ve been fortunate to get the chance to spend time visiting TFW’s long-running cleft lip and palate project at Ghana’s only teaching hospital, Korle Bu.  This project provides cleft lip/cleft palate surgery and rehabilitation for those most in need.         

                                                                                                                                              RPSBC Centre, Korle Bu.                                                         

One of the highlights so far has been visiting some of the children who received treatment through the project.  In the rural area of Swedru, I visited Florence Abban, a child who received cleft surgery with the help of TFW 3 years ago.  I had read stories about Florence in the past, and I was interested to find out how she has been since her surgery. 

After 3 years, Florence has been thriving.  Her father reported that, now age 5, Florence is a healthy and growing little girl.  They will continue to visit the project at Korle Bu from time to time to ensure that Florence is developing normally.  Her family is thrilled with Florence's progress.

                                                                    Florence, now age 5. 

We stopped by Florence’s nursery school, and the school matron proudly announced that despite being the youngest in her class, Florence is among the brightest.  She speaks clearly and normally in class, and she has learned her ABCs and how to count, which will help prepare her for primary school next year.

Thanks to the surgical and rehabilitation team at the Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Burns Centre at Korle Bu for all of your hard work! 

Until next time!

Laura

Florence and her family.