Rosalind Franklin Students Donate to KorleBu
It was a typical weekday afternoon in May. I was cleaning out spam from my in-box, trying to figure out new ways to generate money for our projects and goals this year, when I finally got to an email at the bottom of the list. It was from a precocious young man named Will.
“I will be traveling to Accra, Ghana to complete a three-week
elective in Korle-Bu Hospital as a visiting medical student. I will be
accompanied by two other students. If there is anything that we can do
in the US to help facilitate the goals of KBFF before our arrival on
the 3rd of June, please let me know. Thanks!”
I like to pride myself on being fairly intelligent, but I had read the email three or four times before I could really catch its meaning. Finally, I got it: There was a team of students going to Ghana, and they actually wanted to help us reach or goals!
I took a moment to clear my head (so that I would actually sound semi-intelligent) and called Will. After an amiable conversation, I found out that he had also attended my alma matter, and that his team would be working in the pediatric ward of the hospital. When he asked me what the kids needed, I was a little ashamed to give the typical answer: anything. But it was true! They needed anything and everything. To give a little more direction, I pointed out that we did have a wish list, and his group could elect to supply ay of the items on the list.
What Will and the other students managed to wrangle up in a matter of days in simply astounding! Not only did they get all the items on the list, they went above and beyond and made sure they kept space in their personal luggage to bring the kids little stickers and coloring books, just to make the day brighter.
“I got pediatric ambubags, gauze and bandages,” he wrote. “I also got diapers, umbilical cord clips and clip removers, a couple of nasal canulas, pediatric oxygen masks with tubing and…plenty of bed sheets and pillow cases!”
His excitement was truly refreshing. I relayed the news of his arrival and the booty he would be ferrying to our troops on the ground in Ghana. Since most of the medical staff has been sacked by management for striking for wages, the news of the medical students’ arrival was met with responses both welcome and wry. “I hope they are prepared,” said one of the staff. “Administration is now trying to fill 99 doctors’ spots, so you can imagine the work load.”
The news still didn’t dampen Will’s spirits.
Amanfuo, please join us in thanking these gifted young men and women for their generosity, resourcefulness and dedication to our young ones.