Global Brigades, Inc. Copyright 2009
Global Brigades, Inc. Copyright 2009
Our Model
4 days of clinic
within 1
community
Better quality
care for patients
More time with
patients
Better
experience for
students
Itinerary
*Reminder: This is a sample and will vary depending on your arrival / departure
times and the community you are working it.
*Most evenings will be spent covering the On-Brigade Curricula Topics
Global Brigades, Inc. Copyright 2009
Day 1: Arrival
You will arrive with your Chapter at
Kokota International Airport in Accra,
Ghana. After you exit the plane your
brigade group will go through Customs
and Immigration.
After you claim your luggage, your
group will be greeted by your Brigade
Coordinators who will accompany you
to the vehicle designated for your
group. Then you will embark on your
2.5 hour journey to the lodging facility
in the Central Region!
No matter what time your group arrives
at the lodging facility, your Coordinators
will go over important safety and
introduction information. Also, a hot
meal will be waiting upon arrival.
Global Brigades, Inc. Copyright 2009
Day 2: Community Introductions
The second day of your brigade is when you will have your Opening Ceremony, or
welcoming to the community. The program will include introductions, an opening
prayer and of course dancing – so be ready!
After Opening Ceremony, you will be given a quick tour of the community and
then return to the lodging facility to begin medication sorting as well as run a
triage workshop.
Global Brigades, Inc. Copyright 2009
Day 3: Door to Door
Day three is exciting as it offers volunteers the opportunity to establish a meaningful
relationship with community members. This is the time to ask questions about community
members’ livelihoods and day to day activities as well as introduce yourself.
Brigaders will be assigned a Global Brigades Interpreter and go door to door to engage
with community members. You may spend the entire day with just one family, or meet
ten! Whatever the number is, make sure you really take the time to get to know each
other. It is important that you connect with community members’ as much as possible
when treating them in clinic. In turn, they would like to understand your background and
reason for visiting Ghana and their community.
Global Brigades, Inc. Copyright 2009
Day 4 – 7: Clinic
Intake
Conducted by interpreters
Gynecology
Female students only
Triage
Every station has a Fante
translator
Consultation
Students shadow doctors
Health Education
Station
Students
with local nurses
Dental
Students shadow dentists
Pharmacy
Students learn from and
fill prescriptions under a
licensed pharmacist
What Does a Clinic Look Like?
The Existing Health Structure
Mandate of Ghana National Health:
To provide and prudently manage comprehensive and accessible health service with
special emphasis on primary health care at regional, district and sub-district levels in
accordance with approved national policies.
The Government of Ghana has many community-based health care facilities and initiatives.
Unfortunately the resources to oversee and properly maintain these facilities are often
lacking.
Global Medical Brigades works in conjunction with the Government of Ghana to fill this gap,
through immediate treatment at mobile clinics, preventative education as well as supporting
the existing health care facilities and the services they provide through patient referral and
the promotion of National Health Insurance.
The ultimate goal of Global Medical & Dental Brigades is to encourage community members
to be advocates for their own health and to utilize the existing health structure.
Global Brigades, Inc. Copyright 2009
Structure of Health Facilities
Teaching Hospital
Regional Hospital
Health Centres
Community
Health Planning
and Services
compounds
District Hospital
& Municipal
Hospital
Traditional
Healers &
Traditional Birth
Attendant
Polyclinics
Triage
In the triage station, you will get the chance to meet with patients one on one with an
interpreter to take down the following:
Patient Vitals
•
•
•
•
•
Blood Pressure
Pulse Rate
Respiratory Rate
Weight
Temperature
Signs and Symptoms
Dental
Medical and Dental Brigades combined
• Provide more services
• Holistic approach
Procedures performed on Brigades
• Oral Examinations
• Extractions
• Education
Currently in Ghana there are only 238 dentists, most of which are located in major cities.
Therefore, many community members may not have previously had the opportunity to see
a dentist before.
In fact, many dental supplies are not even available in country! So if you are coming on a
Medical or Dental Brigade, please do not forget the dental supplies- they are crucial!
Global Brigades, Inc. Copyright 2009
Health Education
Arguably the most important station on a Medical/ Dental Brigade, the Health Education
station provides patients with vital preventative education. Here are some of the topics
The mobile clinic will cover to achieve sustainable health care.
Topics covered on every Medical Brigade:
1. Importance of patient referrals
2. Ghana National Health Insurance Scheme
Topics rotated by season*:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Malaria
Sanitation and Hygiene
Exercise and Stretching
Nutrition
Oral Hygiene
Reproductive Health
*Topics are rotated to ensure maximum efficiency.
Global Brigades, Inc. Copyright 2009
Data Informatics
What is Data Informatics?
•
•
It is the electronic medical record system (OpenMRS) that Global Brigades uses to
track and monitor patient and community health.
Data is entered by volunteers after a patient has received their prescription and exits
the brigade.
Day 8: Health Education Day
Health Education Day maximizes the impact of the Health Education Station during clinic. Set
up as an intimate, door to door experience, the Health Education Day is a wonderful
opportunity for students to build a strong relationship with community members as well as
promote preventative and informative education topics, below.
Activity:
• Door to door education
Topics:
• NHIS
• Importance of referral
• Prevention
• Season’s topic
Preparation:
• Research Reproductive Health
• Bring supplies to make posters in
Ghana – poster paper & markers
• Pamphlets – limit text
Global Brigades, Inc. Copyright 2009
Day 9: Excursion
Cape Coast Castle
An in depth and emotional
look into the transatlantic
slave trade. The Cape
Coast Castle tour is an
opportunity to learn not
only about Ghana’s
history and culture, but
also your own.
Global Brigades, Inc. Copyright 2009
Day 10: Departure
Your Coordinators will make sure you are dropped off safely at the International
Airport at least 3 hours prior to departure. Depending on your flight time, your
brigade may be able to spend some time at the Arts Center in Accra to purchase
souvenirs.
Global Brigades, Inc. Copyright 2009
Important Information to Know
Prior to Your Brigade
Referral System
Emergency
Referral
Transportation for a patient who
requires immediate care
Standard
Referral
Referral given to patients whose care falls
outside the scope of the Brigade Clinic.
(Eg. Surgery, diagnostic testing, etc.)
Sponsored
Referral
Case
A Brigade Chapter may commit to
sponsoring a patient who requires care
outside the scope of the Brigade Clinic
During the Health Education Station, Brigaders will provide education on the Standard
Referral and the importance of going for follow-up care. A couple months after a
Brigade Clinic, Global Brigades’ in country team follows-up with Standard Referral
patients in their community to learn more about their cases as well as provide advice
and support.
Global Brigades, Inc. Copyright 2009
National Health Insurance Scheme
Volunteers should be prepared to provide education to community members on the
Ghanaian National Health Insurance Scheme. As Global Brigades is a sustainable organization,
we strive to bridge the gap between community members and existing health structures.
Therefore we highly promote the obtaining of National
Health Insurance as it subsidizes the cost
Age
Cost (GHC)
of healthcare at an affordable rate.
0 – 17
FREE, 4 cedis for card
Click below for the complete NHIS list of:
• Services
• Medications
18 – 69
15 cedis; 11 + 4 cedis
for card
70 +
FREE, 4 cedis for card
Global Brigades, Inc. Copyright 2009
Patient and Student Experience
Patient Experience:



In-depth consultations with health care professionals
Screening tests: glucose, Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA)
High continuity of care
-Referrals
-Follow-up care
Student Experience:

Opportunity for Cultural Exchange
- 7 consecutive days in 1 community
- Ceremony days
- Personal, door to door visits
- Quality time with patients
- Interactive education
- Opportunity to sponsor patients’ long term
care
After the Brigade: Patient Referral
The Brigade is not where the story ends! Global Brigades works hard year round to ensure
sustainability and your role is crucial.
This aspect of the program relays patients into the already existing structure in Ghana,
creating sustainability within the community. The program assists with the necessary care
that falls outside the scope of brigades.
Standard Referral Follow-up
Visits to community after clinic to meet with standard referral
patients to offer advice and assistance where possible.
University Sponsored Patients
Facilitate sponsored patients care by ensuring they are
empowered to seek further healthcare. We provide
advice, assistance and outlets for counseling where
necessary.
After the Brigade: CHVs
Community Health Volunteer (CHV)
Definition: Local health advocates trained in first aid, public health education and
identifying when an illness or injury needs medical treatment.
Current Structure
Global Brigades Structure
• One Government trained CHV per
community
• Only trained in first aid for children
ages 0 – 5, assisting in vaccinations
• Plan Ghana has supplied further
funding to increase the number of
CHVs in select communities to six
• Pro-Link Ghana carries out the
necessary training in infant/child first
aid to Plan Ghana - funded
volunteers
• Current six CHVs receive further
training so they are qualified to
provide first aid to children and
adults
• Additional two to three volunteers
selected by community for training
Global Brigades, Inc. Copyright 2009
Get Involved!
Our Initiative: [Initiative Description]
Contact your University’s Chapter Leader:
[Name] [Email]
Sign up!
[Link to empowered page]
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