We had several mothers/ caregivers visit the Child Center this morning. Luckily Mr. Iddrisu was around during the early morning and was able to interpret for us. Zorash came with an orphan later in the morning so she also interpreted. Four orphans came this morning; none of them were new patients and all of them had gained weight which makes us so happy. Also the caregiver of an abandoned baby came; she had not been to the Center for a couple months and we were afraid that the baby had died. She started coming when the Covid crisis was serious and no one was at the mission house on a regular basis. She would call Zorash when she was coming to get the formula and Zorash would meet her at the Child Center but she lost Zorash’s phone number and had just recently found someone who had the number. The baby was doing well and was gaining. The caregiver said that she had been buying the formula. Good for her for taking such good care of someone else’s child. She said that the mother had given birth to the baby in the market and then ran away.
Mr. Iddrisu had to come back to work today because today is the day we have to pay the taxes. We added an extra day onto his holiday to make up for today. He does not really mind paying the taxes because we give him money for fuel for his motorcycle as a little perk.
We spent the morning getting the Child Center ready to reopen. We bought chairs and placed them 5ft apart and used cable ties to secure them to the walls of the Center; if we did not make them stay in place the mothers would have them moved all over the waiting area. We set up the tables and scale outside so there would be fresh air all around us while we work. The hand washing station was set up just outside the entrance to the veranda of the Center. Steve cleaned the floor of the veranda at the Center. It won’t stay clean but at least it looks better for the moment. When Zorash came we got her input as to chair and table placement. We decided that Meri will man the gate and make sure everyone that enters is wearing a mask and washing their hands. The Child Center has 2 rooms with big verandas on each side and a large conference area in the middle. It should work out well. Ghana is still under a mask, hand washing and social distancing order. We are going to try our best to comply; we would hate to be shut down.
The man that suddenly could not walk without assistance that we helped go to Tamale to the hospital left Tamale hospital and came back to Yendi while he waits for his family to find the money needed for his surgery. While he was waiting his family hired a traditional healer (Juju) and is wasting their money again. Then his family decided to send him to Accra. He has family in Accra that say they will help assist with the surgery. We have not yet promised any money to this family because if they do not get most of the money they need for the surgery they will take our money and waste it on traditional medicine and Juju (witchdoctors).
Thank you for all you do.
In His service,
Steve and Kandie
