Asaafa

  • Overview
  • Medical
  • Water
  • Business
  • Public Health

Overview

Asaafa is located near the coast in the Central Region of  Ghana.  People in Asaafa are primarily dedicated to farming (pinapple, tomato, cassava) and fishing. There is a small clinic in Asaafa, but the closest Health Center is in the community of Edumafa, a 45 minute walk away. The community has some public latrines, but due to poor maintenance, many people choose open air defecation instead.  People in Asaafa get water from various standpipes within the community, some private, some public. Community members have access to school from kindergarten through junior high-school. There is a community bank in Asaafa that offers savings and loans services. The community expressed that their top needs are household toilet facilities and household water connections.

District: Ekumfi

Region: Central

Homes : 600
Population : 1081
Water System : Public Standpipes
Community Bank : Yes
Electricity : Yes
Health Center : Yes
Midwives : Yes
Homes with a toilet facility : 15%
Education : Up To Junior High School
Distance from Lodging Facility : 30-60 minutes

Medical

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

HEALTH CARE ACCESS:

There are two types of public health clinics available to rural Ghanaians: Health Centers and Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds. Health Centers serve large geographic areas within a district and are staffed by physicians. CHPS compounds serve small clusters of communities and are staffed by live-in nurses. The nurses provide basic services and, if capacity allows, they conduct home visits to families in the communities. 

Even with this coverage, it is important to note that medications, equipment, and essential infrastructure are often not available in these clinics and the physician density in Ghana remains around 0.2 physicians per 1,000 people. According to the World Health Organization, there should be a minimum of 2.3 physicians per 1,000 people to qualify a country as having adequate access to medical attention.

Another key factor for healthcare access in Ghana is insurance. Ghana’s National Health Insurance plan offers universal coverage, but few rural community members are actively enrolled. During Medical Brigades, community members are educated about the benefits of health insurance and are encouraged to enrol (or re-enroll) in the National Health Insurance Plan.

Asaafa has a CHPS compound in the community. The most common illnesses in Asaafa are malaria, arthritis, and anaemia.

227

Volunteers

2766

Patient Consultations

476

Vision Screenings Provided

40

Health Education Workshops

BRIGADE INFORMATION

Brigaders & nurses lead a health workshop outside the Eyisam CHPS compound

Medical Brigade clinics are hosted in Asaafa’s CHPS Compound. Volunteers assist local doctors and community nurses to serve patients at each station of the clinic. Each day of the brigade, an average of 7 educational workshops are facilitated with the clinic’s patients.

  • AVERAGE PATIENTS ATTENDED: 581
  • NEARBY COMMUNITIES SERVED: Amisano, Hinee

MEDICAL VOLUNTEERS IN ASAAFA:

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
University of Oklahoma Medical Brigade January 2013 23
Emory University Medical Brigade May 2013 28
University of California Davis Medical Brigade March 2014 22
University of Miami Medical Brigade May 2017 21
DePaul University Medical Brigade June 2018 29
Michigan State University Medical Brigade May 2019 29
University of Oklahoma Medical Brigade August 2021 15
University of Prince Edward Island and SUNY Stony Brook May 2024 38

Water

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Asaafa but has not yet begun with the Water Brigades program.  Now in the planning phase, implementation of a water solution will start as soon as feasible.

Water System : Yes
System Type : Standpipes
Homes connected to water : N/A
Water Council : No

Business

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Asaafa but has not yet begun with the Business Brigades program. Now in the planning phase, a market study and the establishment of a community business will start as soon as feasible.

Community Bank : Yes, Microfin
Community Bank Members : 50
Economic Activities : farming & fishing
Existing microenterprises : N/A

Public Health

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Asaafa but has not yet begun with the Public Health Brigades program. Now in the planning phase, implementation of a public health solution will start as soon as feasible.

Homes with toilet facility : 15%
Common house materials : wood, mud, bricks

Local Reference Points

View the map to see the closest volunteer lodging facilities, hospitals, and other relevant points of reference.

  • Feature