Getting to know you ......

The first drop we carry out is a 'sounding out contact' a sort of 'Hello! We are here! Who are you? Are you interested in what we do?'. We call that a 'pinging drop', as in the way a computer can be 'ping-ed' on the internet to see if it is there and wants to communicate.

So, I guess the 'pinging' drop (The 'A' drop) is the equivalent of an 'introduction' letter. Therefore, the second drop ('B' Drop, which is actually the start of the 10 drop programme), is the 'getting to know you' drop. For the communities who responded to the ping, this drop contains an invitation to a training programme, within their district, generally at their nearest market town. It was clear that each of the 'respondent' communities, those who had completed their questionnaires, were openly excited and it appeared as if the WHOLE community was inspired and excited by the passage of their expected 'air-mail' - I am sure that even the sheep and the goats were aware of 'something special' happening! Those who did not respond to the first drop were 're-pinged' ('X' Drop) - just in case they had not understood. In at least two of the re-pings, the community folk were excited and appeared ready to receive the bag - perhaps they have heard about the idea from their neighbours! Only time will tell!

We are clearly getting better at these flights, but they are incredibly intense. Despite having been in training for this, with research drops, for nearly 2 years, both crew find the run tiring. Your senses are heightened as you approach the GPS marker, and since you are low-level, you need to look more carefully to spot the drop zone to plan your 'run-in'. As you approach, you lower to drop height (200' above the surface) and are planing your 'drop' and your 'exit-route' as well as your 'emergency route'. We have found that accelerating at the moment of the drop, climbing at the same time, works well. Perhaps the extra noise also alerts anybody who is not aware that the 'AEROPLANE IS COMING'! As you climb out, the Drop Master reaches back to the 50 - 100 bag capacity hold, that the 701 easily handles, and selects the next labelled bag, the pilot sets the course to the next community.... Time between drops is as little as a couple of minutes. We litterally leap from community to community in a small percentage point of the time needed to travel by road between each point passes. Perhaps this is time travel at its best!

After the climb out back to 500' above ground level, we turn to look back at the drop zone. In most cases the bag is already in the hand of a runner, and being waved frantically at us! It is a moment of amazing satisfaction. Not only are these aircraft built in Ghana by Ghanaians, they are operated by them. As the skills levels increase they will do more and more flights with 100% local crews. Today, for the first time, I took the left seat on the run. I want to find the best way to train this. Patricia took the Drop Master seat, as she was learning to be able to explain better to the next crews how to carry out each task.

Today's run took 1hr 46minutes. We covered over 200km, and you can see here how the communities are located. The 'Z' number is our unique community identifier; where we have a name (ie they are in communication with us), we add the community name - however, the drop team use the 'Zulu' reference for planning purposes - since some communities have the same name, or similar sounding.

I must say, the feeling of 'achievement' is high. But we are not even scratching the surface. Sadly, we have had to cut back our drops to only 20 respondent communities at this time (we had hoped to reach 100 this year), and only in Upper Manya Krobo District, simply due to funding limitations.

As funds permit, we will expand the programme, focusing on the lake-side communities around the lake, many of which are in much greater need than these early ones. The choice of Upper Manya Krobo as a starting point was, for us, logical. We have excellent relations with these communities from the research drops to one of them, it is close to base and we are based in Krobo-Land (Lower Manya Krobo District). As my Mother used to say 'Charity Begins at Home', and these are the people around our home, and to them we owe much, and so to them the first slice of the ETCHE-Drop cake will go.

We urgently need additional support financially to expand this outreach. $50 is all that it takes to reach an entire isolated community. That includes the cost of the materials, the flights, the associated training, catering and related support costs for one drop. Each series takes 10 drops. That means that for $500 you can support one community's initial ETCHE programme. Together, we can change lives, one flight at a time. We know it, for we see it. We live it. Will you help us to do more?

 

Working to resume classes in the Fulani school

Submitted my Michaela Sholes


Audrey and I had a lovely time at the Fulani camp this morning, where we met with the community for a much more informal session than we've had as of late. Many sessions recently have targeted a specific group in order to gather their feedback as we determined the best way to move forward with the education classes, but today was open to anyone and we had a great group show up!

We began the session with our announcement to them that we would be resuming classes in the community the first week of May, so it will coincide nicely with the start of the new term with public school as well. By that point, my sister Rachelle will also have arrived and will be focused on getting the sessions started again as she spends the next four months with us! The community got a big kick out of the fact that she and I have both lived here as long as we have and our Twi is still "kakra kakra" (small small). It gave me an added incentive for me to improve my language skills!

Following our announcement about the classes starting again, Audrey and I did a short health education session on washing hands. I gave them a brief talk about the role proper hand washing can play in preventing disease in the camp and pulled from my days as a Preschool teacher with a song many of my former students are familiar. Sung to the tune of "Frere Jaques", we modeled washing the top and bottom of the hands as well as in between the fingers. Francis Norman, who had joined us for our session, played his violin with our song as we called on various people, both young and old, to model the song for the group. It was great fun for all and we shared lots of laughter!

The group also enjoyed a short talk and hands-on demonstration from Francis regarding his violin and the different sounds it makes. He took many volunteers to touch the violin and to try to play the instrument and it was cheering to see their faces light up as they realized they were helping to make that lovely noi...I mean, sound! Francis and his friend from Germany also brought with them some balloons which made for lots of cheer, despite one or two unfortunate little balloons that got too close to the spiky grass!

We will continue to be in touch with the community as we determine what days of the week work best for the different sessions, as we will now be holding the women's group separate from the children's group, in addition to starting the men's group with Ben.

Sunrise with Channel 3

When Eric Don Arthur from the TV3 Sunrise show suggested we do a slot on his morning show, he wanted us to do a Saturday morning... Much as the coverage would be great, Saturday and Sunday are the main days for operations at the Airfield, and we had to decline. Then, Good Friday happened! With Francis Norman ( http://francisnorman.de/ ), the amazing violin master, we set off. The plan for the show was 'Good things on Good Friday'... We were honoured to be considered 'Good things!' (thanks Eric!)

Eric focused on the 'route via challenges' that we all had. Francis did the first segment, with some amazing violin playing, then it was the MoM representatives turn. Francis has recovered from Cancer. Myself several physical challenges. Patricia the struggle from clearing bush lands and being the ground-breaker in many things. Then, the 'star of the show', Lydia with her special story ( http://medicineonthemove.blogspot.com/p/lydias-story.html ).

Lydia had not done TV studio work before, and she shone at it! Her smile, her ability to keep to her story despite the many interruptions of Eric (well meaning ones), and her clear 'ease' of handling her disability. No longer do we see the girl who tried to hide her arm. No, Lydia is now making strides forwards, clearing the way for others, making her voice heard. All of this is only possible thanks to the support of people like YOU!

We are proud of all of the people who support our work. We are proud of all the people we work with, and we are proud to represent them all on a show like TV3 Sunrise!

We look forward to the show bringing many more people to meet us at Kpong, and hopefully, getting engaged in the activities of MoM! Thanks to TV3 and Eric!

Gearing up for the first training session

Submitted by Michaela Sholes

As MoM gears up for our first training session for the community health representatives (coming up April 16th), we have been preparing materials for the event. The goal of the session is to introduce the coming bag drop topics to the health reps and to also go into a bit more detail regarding the potential long and short term effects of specific illnesses and disease. Our first 3-drop cycle will target Malaria, Diarrhea, and Schistosomiasis, so the training session will focus on water and sanitation issues.

MoM received some wonderful work from the AvTech girls as they helped design graphics and health messages during their placement this week! Juliet drew stories involving characters who were participating in either healthy or unhealthy behaviors and she came up with some really creative perspectives! Thank you girls for all your hard work!

Kpong field

When we say we live and work at the airfield, come rain or shine, it is not always easy to grasp unless you see it for yourself. Here we can see a small storm system playing around the site, we can see (from left to right) the briefing room, the fuel depot, tractor and car port, green hangar, machine shop (incomplete), spraying booth and workshop and hangars... and the main runway is just in front of you...

If you turn around you can see the aircraft accommodation, MoM offices and mini-clinic site. Here we see, on the left, Staff accommodation and Girls Hostel, and on the right, staff accommodation, visitor accommodation, training rooms and mini-clinic - and the end is the dog run for Spitfire and Catalina - the airfield dogs...

A working, functional and safe base is essential to successful operations. Having the girls hostel is key to behavioural change - bringing the girls into the 'immersion environment' has proven to increase learning success massively. The AvTech girls are housed and fed at the site, ensuring safety and nutrition! Imagine the challenges of transport, feeding and the 'cultural distractions' that being in the local town would bring. We started that way, and since moving the girls to the site we can see developmental leaps in their achievements.

The same will come with the implementation of the Mini-Clinic, once completed. It will provide for a child and parent to be 'immersed' in an environment where behavioural change is positive and then take that home with them. Imagine the potential comment 'When I learned to change the dressings on my child's wounds, all the young people living at the airfield used antiseptic cream, none of them used herbs or animal dung on their wounds - and they all looked healthy and were doing well in their schooling'.... I must admit that our AvTech youngsters are visibly healthy and active, and confident beyond their years...

THAT is what we are building - a living, sustainable, testimony to the power of behavioural change - not only in health, but also in education, achievement and socio-economic-sustainability.

Would you like to help complete the mini-clinic? Every little helps...
just click here!
 

There's no such thing as a simple wound

Submitted by Michaela Sholes

Last week, while we were having a follow-up meeting at the Fulani camp, we met Osmanu, the young son of one of the ladies who has been attending the education classes. We could hear the poor little fellow crying from a ways off, as he made his way over to where we were gathered. His little foot was caked in fresh blood and we learned from his mother that he had had a boil on the side of his pinkie toe. Apparently, the boil had just been pricked by something sharp on the ground, causing it to burst...and resulting in the mess and his tears. Before leaving that day, we cleaned his foot and advised them to take him to the clinic in order to get it dressed properly. I confess, I was more than a little worried about having another Asamau-type of experience with this little boy.

Today, after our meeting at the school, we stopped by the camp in order to follow up with the little boy and see how his foot was faring. Although his wound is definitely still healing and looks painful, Alai has confirmed that Osmanu was taken to the clinic and that they have been cleaning his foot and putting GV on the wound (GV, although technically ill-advised as long term use can cause blood poisoning, is commonly used here in Ghana to dry up wounds and is still a far better solution than cow dung!). He is walking though, albeit tenderly, and we were glad to see that he was wearing shoes as opposed to the bare feet from the week before. We will continue to monitor his wound and check in on the little fellow as he is one of the 4 new students to be starting school in May!

Eliasu

Submitted by Michaela Sholes

During our visit to the school, Audrey and I took the opportunity to see how Eliasu is doing! His teachers speak highly of him and the administration often use him as a role model to encourage other children. We learned last week that he has been made Class Prefect, which is an admirable achievement (comparable to Class President)! He has been working hard during exams and we look forward to celebrating his anticipated good grades when the term is completed!

Our next challenge is working with Eliasu and his family to get his younger brother registered as well. Although his brother has been given a bicycle to attend school, his father states financial difficulties as the barrier to his registration. We are still working with them to see what can be done, but in the meantime, Eliasu remains an encouragement to his brother and the other children in the camp.