Nurturing Contacts

Last week, a long overdue clinical conference for doctors took place in the hospital thanks to Jim's "behind the scenes" approach to initiate it. Unbelievably, the doctors had rarely met among themselves. Rapport was not good, legitimate complaints were usually ignored, and some colleagues were not even aware of the existence of others. Jim went to each physician in the hospital and telephoned four or five additional ones who work in Tamale but outside the facility to encourage their getting together. He asked two Ghanaian doctors to preside over the meeting and to Jim's delight, they had a great turn-out of eighteen physicians and a resolution to hold subsequent conferences every two weeks. So, although serious problems continue, this event was truly an accomplishment.
Our social contacts are also increasing. The Archbishop has a friend who offered to cook a special meal for us the other evening. She is a Ghanaian now married to an Italian and was back in Ghana "to take care of business." Part of her "business" included an attempt to rent us a house and sell us a car. No such agreement came into fruition but we did enjoy some great pasta!
Recently, we had a tasty lunch at an Indian restaurant with a young man from South Africa who is working on an interesting mango project, and last Friday, a Canadian couple who are finishing an eight year water safety assignment in Tamale had us to their home for a wonderful dinner. We feasted on green leaf soup, pepper steak, mashed yams, and assorted vegetables and we even had the Ghanaian version of ice-cream - "Fan Milk" - for dessert, accompanied by paw-paw fruit and banana cake. Their home was well constructed in a compound of houses built by an Italian contractor several years ago specifically for Canadians working in Tamale. So, midst all the poorly built places, there are definitely a few exceptions. The country, itself, is one of contrasts. Many Ghanaians take great pride in their dress and appearance. Seen on the street or at their place of work, one could easily picture them in New York City of London. Their homes, however, are often spartan and not equivalent to western standards as we know them.
Life here in the north can be especially difficult. Because most of the government allotments go to the south, the northerners often feel forgotten or neglected. Poverty is widespread and yet, the Ghanaians are generally a happy people. They warmly greet friends and strangers alike and are always ready to laugh both at each other and at themselves.