Projects
31.08.2024
The first transport to Ghana is on its way
Medical devices on the way!
Welcome to our first major update from Akwaaba e.V.! In the future, we would like to use these posts to provide you with regular updates on our projects, the progress of our fundraising campaigns and the goals of our association. Since our foundation in Hagen in 2022, we have dedicated ourselves to the goal of improving healthcare in developing and emerging countries. Driven by the values of solidarity, commitment and transparency, we are committed to bringing about sustainable change. Join us on our journey and find out here how you can become part of our mission!
Akwaaba e.V. is a young organization dedicated to improving healthcare in disadvantaged regions. Our work includes providing essential medical equipment and organizing training programs for local medical personnel. The inspiration to establish Akwaaba e.V. came in 2022 in Ghana when our founder, Jessica Matyssek, was completing her clinical internship at a local hospital. The challenging working conditions and the severe lack of modern equipment motivated Jessica, together with William Tamele and Gladys Znojek as board chairs, to found Akwaaba e.V.
Over the past year, we have been working intensively on a project to equip the clinic in Kasoa, a small town west of Accra, Ghana, with a much-needed defibrillator. In this update, we are pleased to announce that we have reached our first milestone: On August 28, 2024, we successfully shipped a defibrillator and many other supplies from Bremen to Ghana! This marks a significant step forward for our organization. In total, we were able to send the following materials: a defibrillator, an incubator, a ventilator, seven infusion pumps, gloves, disinfectants, painkillers, antibiotics, supplies for intravenous access, as well as Ambu bags and masks.
Jessica Matyssek (left) and William Tamele (right) during the preparation for the transport of medical equipment to Ghana. Photo: William Tamele
None of this would have been possible without the support of other organizations and companies. A special mention goes to the organization Christliche medizinische Hilfe direkt e.V. from Oldenburg. Thanks to their help, as well as the support of Wayers GmbH and a private transport company from Bremen, we were able to find solutions to the challenges we encountered.
A big thank you goes to the organization Christliche medizinische Hilfe direkt e.V. for providing the incubator, defibrillator, and ventilators. These devices come from clinics in Oldenburg and make a significant contribution to improving medical care at the Kasoa Polyclinic. You can learn more about this organization on their website: https://cmhdev.org/.
Logo: Christliche medizinische Hilfe direkt e.V., https://cmhdev.org/, accessed on: August 26, 2024. https://cmhdev.org/image/logoo.png
Organizing the transport presented us with unexpected challenges, particularly due to the high costs and the complex packaging and logistical requirements. The necessary funds came from a "Go Fund Me" campaign that Jessy launched during her clinical traineeship in Ghana, as well as from recent newspaper contributions. A heartfelt thank you goes to everyone who donated online – this support forms the foundation and the largest financial component for the current shipment and delivery of the materials. Additionally, thanks to recommendations, we were able to establish contact with a private transport company in Bremen that agreed to handle the shipment to Africa.
Another milestone of our initiative is the generous commitment of Wayers GmbH to donate 1,000 training bags for first aid courses and four first aid kits while also supporting us with the shipping – this is simply amazing! With this support, we are currently developing a concept to offer first aid and prevention courses at four schools near the Kasoa Polyclinic. As part of these training sessions, the children will also undergo medical check-ups in collaboration with the clinic.
Photos: Jessica Matyssek
ChatGPT said: Many of our members are actively involved in organizing and carrying out the fundraising campaign. A special mention goes to William, who organizes first aid courses for medical students, with the proceeds being donated, as well as the support of Ebenezer and Joelle on the ground in Ghana. Our current shipment to Ghana will take about a month from Bremen. The equipment is expected to be picked up by Wayers GmbH in Ghana at the end of September and stored for us. Jessy and William will be on-site in December to personally hand over the materials. Further updates will follow.
Our team continues to grow steadily, and we are excited about every new step. We started with 14 founding members, and today we are proud to have 25 active members in our ranks. But we aim to achieve even more and continue to grow. To successfully implement our long-term goals, we still need financial resources and material donations. Everyone can help! Whether through volunteer work, organizing fundraising campaigns, or finding cooperation partners – your support is invaluable! A donation or membership in the organization can also make an important contribution. For questions or cooperation inquiries, we are happy to assist via info@akwaaba-ev.de or the contact form on the website.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who supports our work! Without this help, our successes would not be possible!
Text: Naemi Kerl