Gyinankoma

  • Overview
  • Medical
  • Water
  • Business
  • Public Health

Overview

Gyinankoma is located near the coast in the Central Region of Ghana. People in Gyinankoma are primarily dedicated to farming and producing artisan crafts. The nearest health clinic is 10 kilometers away in the community of Ekrowful. People in Gyinankoma have to travel a long distance to get water since the two boreholes in the community are too salty for domestic use. Approximately 1% of homes have their own toilet facilities. There is no existing rural bank in Gyinankoma that offers savings and loans services. The community expressed that their top needs are a health clinic and improved sanitation.

District: Ekumfi

Region: Central

Homes : 219
Population : 761
Water System : Yes (limited)
Community Bank : No
Electricity : Yes
Health Center : No
Midwife at clinic : N/A
Homes with toilet facility : 1%
Education : N/A
Distance from nearest GB 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 health care 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 enroll (or re-enroll) in the National Health Insurance Plan.

Gyinankoma does not have its own CHPS compound, but community members are served by the nearby Ekrawfo CHPS zone.

*These statistics reflect data from historical Medical Brigades in Gyinankoma. Medical Brigades are now held in the community of Ekrawfo, where community members from Gyinankoma attend mobile clinics.

38

Volunteers

156

Patient Consultations

N/A

Vision Screenings Provided

20

Health Education Workshops

BRIGADE INFORMATION

Ekrawfo CHPS compound where patients from Gyinankoma attend clinics

Community members in Gyinankoma attend Medical Brigade clinics hosted in Ekrawfo’s CHPS compound. Volunteers assist local doctors and community nurses to serve patients at each station of the clinic. More information is available on the Ekrawfo profile.

MEDICAL VOLUNTEERS IN GYINANKOMA:

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
Dalhousie University & University of San Diego Medical Brigade August 2013 38
Pennsylvania State University Medical Brigade May 2014 N/A

Water

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Gyinankoma 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 : boreholes, standpipes
Homes connected to water : N/A
Water Council : Yes

Business

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

GYINAKOMA’S ECONOMIC CHALLENGE

Rural communities in Ghana face a number of structural obstacles when it comes to economic growth. Access to credit is limited by physical barriers in transportation and exclusion from formal financial institutions. If community members aren’t able to access these institutions, their only option is to solicit credit from loan sharks, who charge exorbitant interest rates. Additionally, maintaining savings is not a common practice in rural communities in Ghana. The main source of income in Gyinankoma is farming and artisan crafts.

5

Volunteers

N/A

Savings Accounts Opened

N/A

Loans Disbursed

N/A

Capital Invested

GYINAKOMA’S MICRO-FINANCE SOLUTION

GB Ghana Business Program Manager, Shiella, consults with an MHope Group in Ekumpoano

The GB Business Program works with Microfin Rural Bank to stimulate the local economy by organizing community volunteers around a community bank which is entirely owned and operated by its members. Focusing on providing access to credit and savings for their fellow community members, its volunteers are tasked with socializing the community bank and managing the funds. Microfin and the GB Business Program provides training and support to help strengthen these community banks and stimulate the flow of capital within the community. These financial services are especially beneficial for subsistence farmers and entrepreneurs, who can invest more heavily in their production with a loan, pay back the loan after sales, and generate an income with any excess.

Gyinankoma has not yet established a Microfin “MHope group,” but will begin as soon as feasible. The shareholders of the MHope group will weekly to deposit savings and manage loans which are approved by all the bank’s members.

GYINAKOMA’S BUSINESS SOLUTION

Mr. Kojo Mbir, owner of a gari processing business in Gyinankoma

In addition to working with the community banks, the Business Program provides support and technical skills in establishing anchor businesses that generate additional capital. The goal is to better integrate isolated communities into the local economy and allow for growth. During this process, interested community members receive training to increase their familiarity with business terminology, develop their business administration skills, and promote innovation and diversification in the types of business ventures they pursue.

BUSINESS VOLUNTEERS IN GYINANKOMA:

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
University of Texas Austin Business Brigade January 2019 5

Public Health

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Gyinankoma 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 : 1%
Common house materials : concrete, mud bricks, wood

Local Reference Points

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

  • Feature