The man in black’s name is Johnny. He was the driver that took me to Frankadua this week. Johnny is wearing black because his father passed away last week. Tradition dictates that he wear black until his father’s body has been buried.
This photo is significant to me because it reminds me of the reason we are here. Johnny’s father was diabetic and when he fell ill Johnny took him to a public hospital in Accra. The hospital was over-crowded and under-funded. They had no running water or empty beds and were not accepting any new patients. Johnny sat in the hospital lobby for hours and hours and watched his father die.
The work Heidi and the staff in Nalerigu are doing makes a difference. The financial support the hospital receives through the IMB and the Faile Foundation makes a difference.