GHEI Education Programs
Lily Ofori-Amanfo received life-saving heart surgery thanks to GHEI's advocacy efforts.
Health Programs
Malaria Prevention

Handwashing with Soap

Sexual and Reproductive Health

Support of Healthcare Services

Education Programs
Girls' Education & Empowerment

Early Childhood Literacy

Youth Education

Community Library

Scholarship Program

Support of Local Healthcare Services

Background / GHEI supports the healthcare system from the local to the district level in a variety of ways. Lack of quality healthcare has been an ongoing community concern. With the help of local healthcare practitioners, GHEI identifies needs where we can offer expertise, resources or support and strives to meet these needs. Below are the ongoing activities GHEI does in order to help improve healthcare services:

  • Donation of medical supplies and equipment to the local, sub-district
    and district health facilities (2004-present).
  • Provision of baby blankets to Humjibre health clinic as an incentive
    for women to deliver at the clinic rather than at home without
    skilled birth attendants. (2007-present).
  • Identification of children with congenital heart disease and facilitation
    of referral for free surgery at a national hospital (2008-present).
  • Medical assessment of trauma patients and/or special medical cases in the community.
  • Referral if needed, advocacy for navigating health system and scheduling
    appointments, and financial assistance in transportation costs (2010-present).
  • Training for local health staff on various medical topics and skills including
    prevention of newborn death (see below for more detail) (2010-present).
A Closer Look: Training on Preventing Newborn Death / The WHO estimates that 1 million babies die each year from birth asphyxia or the inability to breathe immediately after delivery. Simple techniques like drying the baby, keeping the baby warm and suctioning the baby's mouth may be all that is needed. If babies do not respond to any of these techniques however, many will begin to breathe on their own after a few breaths from a simple ventilation device.

In partnership with the University of Los Angeles (UCLA) Pediatric Training Program, GHEI provides annual training on neonatal resuscitation to nurses and midwives, who are the health personnel most likely to attend deliveries. As requested by health personnel, we target various levels of the health care system from local clinics to the district-level hospital.

New in 2011: National Health Insurance Scheme Registration Drives / Ghana introduced the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) into law in 2003, with implementation starting in 2005. The goal of the scheme is to assure equitable and universal access to health care for all residents of Ghana. Individuals pay a relatively low fee annually to enroll in the scheme, which covers approximately 95% of medical conditions. While enrollment in the scheme is increasing, a large proportion of the country is not yet enrolled. Of those in the lowest fifth of socioeconomic status, only 29% were enrolled in 2008. Among those in the highest fifth of socioeconomic status, 64% were enrolled (Ghana National Development Planning Commission, 2008).

Our local community members often find it difficult to navigate the registration process, and this serves as a barrier to enrollment and access to healthcare. GHEI is initiating a new activity to increase enrollment in our community by hosting its first NHIS Registration Drive Day in June 2011.

How you can help / If you would like to help GHEI improve health care services for patients in Humjibre and surrounding villages, please consider donating to GHEI. A $160 donation can be used to buy a training package for neonatal resuscitation, but a donation in any amount is welcome.