Healthcare in Ghana – The harsh reality of a developing country with Trixton May
In this conversation, we talk with Trixton May about his clinical experiences in Takoradi, Ghana. Trixton took himself to Ghana as a second-year paramedic student with aspirations to serve in areas less fortunate and developed contexts than his reality back in the UK. In the discussion, we explore the variety of experiences and revelations he had in this developing healthcare system. Trixton has written a reflection 'Healthcare in Ghana – The Harsh Reality of a Developing Country'. In the reflection, Trixton denotes the socio-economic demographics of Ghana and the social deprivation that healthcare serves in the region. He also recalls his anecdotal experience in each domain of emergency care. We examine some of the patients and pathologies that he observed in his time within the emergency department. We also examine the challenges of working in a low resource environment and the innovation that is required at certain times due to the overwhelming clinical need. We then examine the utility of being exposed to extreme poverty and the consequential reframing of the NHS in light of this. We delve into the advantages of debriefing in some of the more traumatic cases and reprocessing the narrative to ensure there is some cognitive reprieve. We also examine the adaptation that has to occur in the absence of diagnostics and equipment and drugs. We finally look at the utility of going with an established organisation that has both in-country presence, security environment scanning and channels of support as required. Trixton’s reflective piece can be found here: https://4c9ccd6e-1304-4bf0-9df0-58cabce7c308.filesusr.com/ugd/7fc531_5aa29fdd01a84ec3b9d18e451d62bef5.pdf The organisation that Trixton went to Ghana with can be found here: https://www.worktheworld.co.uk/