UNE team provides hands-on health care and education in Ghana

A team of UNE faculty, staff and students recently returned from a two-week transatlantic health, research and academic exchange in Ghana.

The 21 physicians, physician assistants, pharmacists, nurses, physical therapists, dental hygienists and public health professionals provided direct care services and health education in the Sekondi/Takoradi regions of western Ghana.  They also participated in the "2011 Excellence in Higher Education Across Borders" symposium at University of Cape Coast.  This is the second UNE health mission to Ghana in 2011.

More than 350 patients

The team treated more than 350 patients in two clinics in Sekondi and the rural community of Kansawarado for illnesses ranging from malaria, intestinal parasites, malnutrition and wounds, to chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes.  They also provided community health education on safe sex practices, STD prevention, and oral health.

More than three dozen patients and families were enrolled in insurance or received prepaid care for dental extractions, cataracts, or glaucoma.  Close to 100 patients also had physical therapy needs, many related to arthritis and overuse. It is common for Ghanaian women to carry infants on their back, so back pain and related injuries are not unusual.

The Ghana Health Partnership

The Ghana Health Partnership (GHP) was established as a formal alliance in spring 2010 to improve the health of the people of western Ghana through development and implementation of collaborative research and training programs with local and international partners.  Its partners include the University of New England, University of Cape Coast (UCC), Ghana Health Service (GHS), Ghana Health Mission (GHM) and the Institute for Public Health and Water Research (IPWR).

The partnership grew out of a health outreach program between UNE‚ Westbrook College of Health Professions and the U.S.-based Ghana Health Mission.  About 120 students and faculty from across all UNE Colleges have participated in six missions since 2008.

Another key participant is UNE's Center for Community and Public Health (CCPH), which conducts research, demonstration and planning studies throughout the U.S. and abroad. CCPH has submitted three research grants to study both chronic disease as well as the strengthening of maternal child health-health systems in Ghana.

The 2011 symposium addressed research and educational strategies of the partnership, and included interactive presentations on topics such as maternal and child health, water quality and sanitation, strategies for the care of rheumatologic disorders, and chronic disease practice innovations in low resource communities.

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.