Ghana AIDS Projects Committee

Letter to Danni, by Janette Ambauen

Dear Danni,

As I deal with my shock and sadness at hearing the news of your death, I am reminded of a letter sent to me recently by a close friend.  I was feeling a bit discouraged and overwhelmed at the time so it was just what I needed to re-inspire me.

 I want to share a portion of this letter with you because for me, you exemplified the spirit of grace and inspiration that this writer, Clarissa Pinkola Estés, speaks of: 

‘Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world all at once, but of stretching out to mend the part of the world that is within our reach.

Any small, calm thing that one soul can do to help another soul, to assist some portion of this poor suffering world, will help immensely. It is not given to us to know which acts or by whom, will cause the critical mass to tip toward an enduring good. What is needed for dramatic change is an accumulation of acts — adding, adding to, adding more, continuing. We know that it does not take “everyone on Earth” to bring justice and peace, but only a small, determined group who will not give up. 

…One of the most calming and powerful actions you can do to intervene in a stormy world is to stand up and show your soul. Souls on deck shine like gold in dark times. The light of the soul throws sparks, can send up flares, builds signal fires … causes proper matters to catch fire. To display the lantern of soul in shadowy times like these — to be fierce and to show mercy toward others, both – are acts of immense bravery and greatest necessity. Struggling souls catch light from other souls who are fully lit and willing to show it. If you would help to calm the tumult, this is one of the strongest things you can do.’ 

Danni, you stood up and showed us your soul.  You taught us, loved us and guided us. Our souls caught the light of your soul so that we could carry on the work of bringing light to others.

This comes with much love and prayer as we remember Who we come from and why we come to this beautiful, needful Earth.  You were with us for such a short time but the light of your soul will burn on forever. 

May your soul rest in eternal perfect peace.

Janette Ambauen, GhAP Rep

Tribute to Danielle, ‘Danni’ Dunlap — In Loving Memory

Our Dear Friend and Colleague PCV Danni Dunlap (President of the Ghana AIDS Projects Committee), passed away after a brief illness on Sunday, April 28th, 2013. The Peace Corps Ghana community honoured and remembered her with a memorial service on Friday, May 3rd. 

Below is the tribute read at Danni’s memorial service by Daniel Omane, PEPFAR Program Coordinator, on behalf of the entire GhAP Committee: 

TRIBUTE to Danielle Dunlap   (Read by Daniel Omane on behalf of the GhAP Committee)

I initially declined to publicly pay tribute to Danielle Dunlap, but considering the kind of relationship I had with her, I think I’ll be doing her a disservice if I don’t let the world know the kind of person our LEADER was and what she stood for.  I stand here on behalf of the PCV HIV Committee (known as the GhAP Committee).

I got to know Danielle Dunlap through my work as the HIV Program Coordinator for Peace Corps/Ghana, but my close encounter with Danielle started when she assumed the position of President of the PCV HIV Committee, which I supervise.

During the 12 months of her presidency, we (the GhAP Committee) saw Danielle Dunlap to be a born leader who was able to motivate her team members, direct and lead them to work towards the achievement of a common goal. She had strong working relations with her team and always provided me with lots and lots of ideas on how to move the committee forward. Danielle was optimistic, innovative and curious as she always tried to explore better ways of addressing issues for improved results. I relied, at times, on Danni when I needed help with my planning; she’ll help me out with a smile, and without hesitation.  She always asked that I contact her if I needed her or the committee to support me in any way in the future. I actually did see Danielle as my ‘Backbone’ because she was very instrumental in the discharge of my duties.

Today, our LEADER is gone home, but we continue to see images of her in our minds and remember the intimate working relationship we had together. She still lives amongst us:

·         We see the AIDS Quilt, and we see Danni.

·         We see the Committee’s constitution, and we hear Danni talking to us.

·         We see the February page of the 2013 PEPFAR Calendar, and we see Danni smiling at us.

·         We remember last January’s Community HIV Service Day activities, and we hear Danni asking us to update her on how next year’s event goes.

·         We think of the committee’s upcoming elections in June, and we hear Danni wishing us well.

I still remember Danielle’s words to me after she had finished coordinating work on the AIDS Quilt. She said, “Omane, you see how I’m making you proud.” In response, I said “Yes, I know, Danielle and do let me know if you need anything from me.” She wanted to go to Graduate School, and so I gladly did one of her recommendations for her. She later on told me she’s got admission into two schools to pursue a Master’s program in Public Health, and that she needed to make a choice. She was ambitious and demonstrated her commitment to working towards the promotion of the well-being of humanity from all spheres of life. She always showed her excitement about her admission into Graduate School. But today, it hurts me so much that that dream will not come to fruition.

Danni, members of the GhAP Committee are shedding tears because you have always been part of us and we will continue to remember you.

We pray that the LORD take us through this moment of grief, pain and sorrow as we mourn our LEADER and what she stood for.

God Bless Us All.

May Danni rest in peace. 

ART Clinic, HIV Clubs, and More

PCVs in Central Region have been actively engaging in many different projects to educate their community members on HIV and AIDS prevention and to assist PLHA. 

By PCV Jen B:

Government Hospital ART Clinic:  PCVs Adam M. and Jen B. have been assisting at the ART clinic on Tuesdays since September.  Each Tuesday PLHAs come to receive their monthly counseling and treatment at the ART Clinic.  Ghanaian volunteers assist the nurse with greeting the patients when they enter the waiting area, along with taking down their weight and blood pressure while they wait to see the nurse.  Adam and Jen have been working with the volunteers to also provide Health Talks to the patients while they are waiting.  They have covered topics such as proper nutrition, modes of transmission, and how to further protect themselves from acquiring another strand of the virus. 

The Health talks provide an opportunity for the patients to ask additional questions about HIV and AIDS while also assisting the Ghanaian volunteers and hospital staff to understand how to further help the patients.

Community Education: PCV Adam P. has been working with providing education and sensitization about HIV and AIDS throughout his community by sitting with food vendors.  He approaches a woman with some HIV material and she will then call over additional women to participate in the discussion.  His informal discussions have led to educating ten community members so far on how to further protect themselves from acquiring HIV while also assisting with reducing the stigmatization that is associated with it.

JHS HIV and AIDS Health Club:  PCV Jen B. attended a meeting at her local JHS school and assisted the teacher with bringing the Journey of Hope Narrow Bridge activity for students to participate in.  Since the HIV and AIDS Club was already established the activity was a fun way for students to develop a better understanding of the lessons they were being taught.  Each student had the opportunity to participate in the activity in three ways.  First they were challenged to walk on the line promoting Abstinence and Faithfulness.  Most students were able to complete the walk without falling.  They were then turned in a circle a few times and asked again to walk the straight line. 

The majority of the students were unable to accomplish the same tasks as well as they had the first time.  This led to the discussion of how drugs and alcohol can prevent them from making the correct decisions.  Students were asked to compare and explain their two experiences with walking and what ways they would be able to protect themselves further from acquiring HIV.  Students then explained how and why condoms can protect them further from the virus. 

SHS Health Club Inauguration: PCVs Bob F., Adam M., and Jen B. implemented a School Hygiene Project to help promote good sanitation practices in four schools.  The project consisted of forming Health Clubs to have students participate in the construction process and behavior change throughout the school.  The students in Bob F.’s village used the project to also promote their Health Club and had an inauguration ceremony once they had completed building hand washing stations, incinerator trashcans, and providing signs throughout the school grounds to promote a cleaner school environment. 

During the inauguration ceremony the Health Club’s teacher and Headmaster gave speeches encouraging students on how to protect themselves from HIV and AIDs.  Additionally Health Club students sang two songs aimed at promoting HIV awareness to the students in attendance.  The club then encouraged other students to join the club to help increase their awareness on different health topics. 

Know Your Status Campaign in Central Region

By PCV Jen B:

In January eleven PCVs implemented an HIV testing event in the Central Region.  The event began with the showing of videos from Scenarios From Africa to help promote HIV testing.  The Disease Control Officer then gave an opening speech to encourage community members to have a test done with one of the three nurses that had been made available for the day.  Informational booths were placed throughout the Town Hall and included information on reducing stigmatization and providing education about HIV and AIDS. 

PCVs Kate S., Adam P., Taylor P., and Josh K. worked at a booth aimed at providing information on the three modes of transmission and provided female and male condom demonstrations.  All community members were provided with AIDS awareness ribbons and three male condoms or one female condom.  Additionally, PCVs Shilpa R. and Danni D. provided education on proper nutrition and how it can lead to a longer life for PLHAs and safe practices against Mother-to-Child Transmission.  PCVs Debra B. and Melissa R. assisted with the Journey of Hope Narrow Bridge activity.  Ghanaian volunteers from the Government Hospital ART Clinic were present to help assist PCVs with translating to the community members that attended the event. 

In the morning attendance among community members was high. However as the day went on less community members came to the event.  In order to help draw more attention PCVs and LNGO community mobilizers set out into the community to help draw attention and encourage people to come into the testing area.  PCV Bob F. encouraged a woman selling items along the roadside to come and receive a test by agreeing to sell items for her while she waited for a nurse to be free.  Additionally, other PCVs used their language skills to help encourage Ghanaians they met on the street to come to the Town Hall to receive a test.

By the close of the event 104 of the 190 community members that had participated were tested for HIV; of those 2 were found to be positive and referred to the ART Clinic for further assistance and information.

HIV Testing in Upper East Region

By PCV Dennis Callahan

On January 12^th we put on HIV/AIDS EDUCATION & AWARENESS DAY in my village of Gambibgo here in Upper East Region.  The idea started during the community integration phase of my site assignment when I stopped into the Gambibgo Community Clinic to introduce myself and explore how we could work together.  They wanted to do a big event to educate people about what they should be doing to prevent contracting HIV.  The day would also provide free testing for HIV.  I wanted to make sure the community was aware that there is a good HIV/AIDS support group in nearby Bolgatanga that PCV Emma helped launch when she was here.

We wanted to attract a large audience so we hired a quality sound system group who stayed with us throughout the event.  The idea is that as soon as people hear the music they will come out to see what is going on.  The day before the event we hired an information vehicle with loud speakers to drive throughout the village of 10,000 people.  The lead community nurse was the voice on the loud speaker and he did an excellent job of informing and encouraging people to come to the event.  We ordered 2 large banners advertising the event and mounted them a few days prior at key locations in the community.

To help attract and entertain the people we had a cultural dance group from our local primary school demonstrate their skills.  To provide shade and comfort for the audience we rented 3 large canopies and 200 chairs.  The major draw was the football game between rivaling neighboring villages of Gambibgo and Yargabisi.  During halftime, when the audience would be at peak, we used the time for an educational session and demonstration on how to use condoms.   After sunset the plan was to show educational movies in the local language.  Unfortunately, the electricity cut out at 6PM and we couldn’t do it.  A generator was not ordered due to budget constraints.

We planned the date so that boarding students would still be on break and also to be ahead of the funeral season.  Our major goal was to test at least 300 attendees.  We tested 356 and found two women in their twenties to be positive.  They were encouraged to come to the clinic for follow up consultation, which should include information about joining the Bolga support group. 

We had 3 testing stations staffed with nurses outside of the village.  This was considered very important to our success because people would be reluctant being tested by anyone that might know them.  The testing lines started early and continued steady throughout the day.  All told, it was a successful day.