April 2008: Update to the Global Board (Ghana)

Central Region

Taido Epicenter

Start Year: 1997

Phase: 3

Major Accomplishments

• Epicenter Clinic: 173 infants comprising 72 males and 101 females were immunized against the following childhood diseases: polio, measles, whooping cough, yellow fever, and tetanus. 106 people attended the clinic and were treated for diseases which included malaria, measles, skin diseases and anemia. Malaria was the highest reported case (76% of cases).
• Construction of Nurses' Quarters: Seven trips of sand and two trips of stones were conveyed to the epicenter towards the construction of nurses' quarters.
• Adult Literacy: The Essakrom English Class, which is made up of 25 learners (11 males and 14 females), passed the Non-Formal Education Division (NFED).
• Women Empowerment Program (WEP): A radio program was organized to publicize the activities of WEP animators in the promotion of gender equality as part of International Women's Day celebrations.

Ekurobadze Epicenter

Start Year: 2004

Phase: 1

Major Accomplishments

• Crop Improvement: The Ostir, Ogoekrom, Adambo and Ekurobadze communities were supplied with 110 kg of improved maize seed to cultivate a total of 11 acres of farm.
• HIV/AIDS Project: 259 male condoms were sold during the quarter by the WEP and HIV/AIDS animators.

Asafora Epicenter

Start Year: 2002

Phase: 2

Major Accomplishments

• Adult Literacy: The Waakrom Vernacular Literacy Class, which is made up of 18 females and 9 males, were promoted to the English Class by the NFED.
• Crop Improvement: The Asafora, Waakrom, Nsuekyir, Obontsir, Nsaadze, Buranomoa, Edzimbor and Ekutukrom partner communities were supplied with 120 kg of improved maize seeds to cultivate a total of 12 acres of farm.
• Epicenter Construction: Digging of the manhole for the epicenter building is about 70% complete.

Ekumfi Eyisam Epicenter

Start Year: 2000

Phase: 1

Major Accomplishments

• Vision, Commitment and Action (VCA) Education: A mass VCA workshop was conducted by Dr. Fitigu Tadesse during his visit to Ghana, for 223 people (122 females and 101 males).
• 201 male condoms and six female condoms were sold during the quarter by the HIV/AIDS animators.
• 120 kg of improved maize seeds and 18 kg of beans were supplied to nine communities in the epicenter for cultivation.

Ashanti Region

Adomfe Epicenter

Start Year: 2003

Phase: 3

Major Accomplishments

• The Epicenter Conference Hall: An amount of GHC 50.00 (US$50) was realized from the hiring of plastic chairs and was deposited in the epicenter account.
• VCA Animator-initiated Projects: 800 blocks have been molded for the continuation of the Adomfe nursery school, which is currently at the window level.
• Food Bank: The food bank has been stocked with 35 mini-bags of maize by two groups from Bompata and Adomfe.
• Biodiversity Improvement: The Morso Community has made available two acres of land for the planting of teak trees after the people were sensitized on the importance of woodlot cultivation.
• Epicenter Clinic: 184 people (106 females and 78 males) attended the clinic. Malaria remains the highest case reported at the clinic, although there has been a significant drop from 62% of cases in the last quarter to 35% in this quarter. The number of children weighed at the clinic increased from 248 in the previous quarter to 253 this quarter, comprising 139 girls and 114 boys. The children were also immunized against measles, polio, tetanus, whooping cough, diphtheria, and yellow fever.
• Crop Improvement: 80 kg of improved maize seeds were supplied to two farming groups and two communities for cultivation.

Kyempo Epicenter

Start Year: 2003

Phase: 3

Major Accomplishments

• The Epicenter Clinic: The clinic recorded 145 people (82 females and 63 males) as opposed to 219 outpatients in the previous quarter. 176 babies (102 girls and 74 boys) were weighed and immunized against measles, polio, tetanus, tuberculosis, diphtheria, influenza type "B" and hepatitis B.
• Epicenter Library: On average, 33 children used the library every day. The library has contributed to an improvement in the reading performance of schoolchildren who used the library regularly.
• Biodiversity Improvement: Five communities have made available a total of seven acres for the cultivation of teak. The communities are Menamenaso (2 acres), Komeaboi (1 acre), Takyikrom (1 acre), Adidipakyie (1 acre), and Subinso (2 acres).
• Women's Empowerment Program (WEP): 232 people were educated by WEP animators at Kyempo and Amoakrom on marriage laws and divorce and domestic violence.
• Crop Improvement Project: 150 kg of improved maize seeds were supplied to partner families for cultivation.

Banka Epicenter

Start year: 2004

Phase: 1

Major Accomplishments

• VCA Education: 314 people (173 females and 142 males) were sensitized on the VCA principles.
• VCA Animator-Initiated Projects: The Tokwai community has mobilized 600 blocks and two trips of sand for the continuation of the construction of the nursery school. Work on the school has progressed from foundation level in the previous quarter to the window level.
• Biodiversity Improvement: Four communities have made available a total of five acres of farmland for teak cultivation. The communities are Kokobeng (1 acre), Tokwai (1 acre), and Gyadam (2 acres).
• Crop Improvement Project: Three farming groups and four communities in the epicenter were supported with 80 kg of improved maize seed for cultivation.

Dampong Epicenter

Start Year: 2004

Phase: 1

Major Accomplishments

• Biodiversity Improvement: Six acres of land have been made available at Kwabeng for cultivation of teak trees.
• HIV/AIDS: 325 people (177 females and 148 males) were sensitized at Kwabeng and Dampong on the Causes and Prevention of HIV/AIDS.
• Women's Empowerment Program (WEP): WEP animators educated 152 people on succession laws.
• Crop Improvement: Four communities were supported with 80 kg of improved maize seeds for cultivation.

Volta Region

Tokome Epicenter

Start Year: 2002

Phase: 3

Major Accomplishments

• Epicenter Library: Two wooden benches and a table were procured for the library with the funds generated by the epicenter, mainly from the hiring of epicenter chairs. An agreement was reached with the E.P. Primary School at Tokome to transfer over 900 library books to the epicenter library. The books were donated by the school, which has no library room to keep them.
• Women's Empowerment Program (WEP): A meeting was organized by the WEP animators, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Department of Social Welfare (DSW) and the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) to provide an opportunity for them to familiarize themselves with each others' activities and explore ways of collaboration. All three organizations (CHRAJ, DSW and NCEE) expressed their desire to support the work of the WEP animators. As a demonstration, NCEE presented 25 copies of the abridged version of the constitution to the animators to facilitate their work.

Yordan/Adomi Epicenter

Start Year: 2002

Phase: 1

Major Accomplishments

• 650 blocks have been molded by the people of New Adomi to continue work on the animator-initiated KVIP latrine project.

Fesi/Bame Epicenter

Start year: 2003

Phase: 1

Major Accomplishments

• Seven trips of sand were mobilized at the epicenter site and nine trips of stone were gathered in the communities, but are yet to be conveyed to the site.
• Preparation of a site plan for the epicenter building has been completed.

Gbefi Epicenter

Start Year: 2002

Phase: 1

Major Accomplishments

• 740 GH cedis out of the total GH 1,190 disbursed to 23 women in three groups has been repaid during the first quarter of this year.

Tsatee Epicenter

Start Year: 2000

Phase: 1

Major Accomplishments

• Two trips each of sand and stone and 100 pieces of roofing wood have been mobilized for the continuation of the Agordeke KG block.

Greater Accra Region

Matsekope Epicenter

Start Year: 2001

Phase: 2

Major Accomplishments

• 23 trips of sand have been conveyed to the epicenter building site.
• A draft copy of the epicenter land document has been submitted to the Epicenter Committee for review before it is finalized.
• The Toflokpo six-unit teachers' quarters project has progressed from the lintel level in the previous quarter to the gable level this quarter.
• The first WEP legal education campaigns in the area were carried out in three communities. A total of 191 people (115 females and 76 males) benefited from the educational sessions.

Amuyaokope Epicenter

Start Year: 2000

Phase: 1

Major Accomplishments

• The HIV/AIDS animators reached a total of 642 people (339 females and 303 males) with education on Causes and Prevention of HIV/AIDS. The effect of ignorance on the spread of the disease was highlighted. The communities covered were Luta, Amuyaokope, Amartey Koni, and Sege.
• The WEP animators educated 175 people (133 females and 42 males). The communities covered were Badjorhe, Koni, and Amuyaokope.

Scale Up Program in the Eastern Region

Zone 1: Kwahu South, Kwahu West, Birim North and Atiwa Districts

Nsuta Aweregya Epicenter

Start year: 2001

Phase: 4

Major Accomplishments

• The food bank has 30 maxi bags of maize in stock.
• The Epicenter Health Clinic: The epicenter clinic recorded a total of 436 outpatients of which 52 or 12% were malaria cases. It is now evident that the number of malaria cases at Nsuta-Aweregya is much lower compared to the figures in all the other epicenters that have not been supplied with treated bed nets. The number of women who attended antenatal was 35, while 250 children attended the Child Welfare Clinic. One baby boy was the only delivery recorded during the quarter.

Ankoma Epicenter

Start Year: 2001

Phase: 2

Major Accomplishments

• Support from the MP's Common Fund was provided by the District Assembly and yielded GH 1,500 (US$1,500) for the purchase of more wood for the roofing of the epicenter building.
• The Kofi Nyina corn mill project has improved the income status of the women, especially those who produce corn dough for sale in the various markets in the Kwahu Districts. According to the women, they make an average of GH cedis 10.00 per week. Also the drudgery of women and children in food processing has been reduced drastically. The corn mill had gained a total of GHC 250.00 (US$250) during the quarter.

Atuobikrom Epicenter

Start Year: 2001

Phase: 4

Major Accomplishments

• The Epicenter Committee and the chiefs, in collaboration with the District Assembly, have dug one borehole in front of the epicenter building to serve both the community and the epicenter.
• The clinic recorded a total of 567 outpatients. Among the cases reported are 184 cases of malaria (116 females; 68 males), 42 of respiratory tract infections (26 females; 16 males), 20 of hypertension (14 females; 6 males), 20 of rheumatism (12 females; 8 males), 10 of diarrhea (6 females; 4 male), and 6 of worms (4 females; 2 male).
• The food bank has 60 maxi bags of maize in stock for the upcoming lean season.

Dwerebease Epicenter

Start Year: 2003

Phase: 3

Major Accomplishments

• Epicenter communities have completed the nurses' quarters and the KVIP (sanitary latrine) projects, which are ready for commissioning.
• The number of cases reported at the clinic was 92 out of which 31 (37%) were malaria cases. The number of women who attended antenatal was 20 while 178 children attended the Child Welfare Clinic.
• 30 maxi bags of maize were recorded in the food bank.

Nkawanda Epicenter

Start Year: 2003

Phase: 2

Major Accomplishments

• Construction of the epicenter building, which started in January, has reached the lintel level.

Odumase Epicenter

Start Year: 2000

Phase: 2

Major Accomplishments

• An appeal was made to the District Assembly and yielded GH 1,000 (USD$1,000), which will be used to grade the compound of the epicenter.
• The District Health Administration has agreed to provide the epicenter clinic with ward beds.
• The construction of the nurses' quarters and KVIP latrines is almost completed. The buildings are currently being painted.
• The epicenter was inaugurated by Jill Lester, President and CEO of The Hunger Project, on April 10, 2008.

Kwaoboadi Epicenter
(Birim North District)

Start Year: 2007

Phase: 2

Major Accomplishments

• The digging of foundation trenches and block molding for the construction of the epicenter building have started.

Mpintimpi/Nyafoman (Birim North District)

Start Year: 2007

Phase: 2

Major Accomplishments

• The Mpintimpi community mobilized seven trips of stones and two trips of sand for the epicenter building construction. Unfortunately, it appears that it may not be an ideal site after all since an uncompleted CHPS (Community-based Health Planning and Services) compound initiated by the EU has been sighted at Nyafoman, a community only 2.5 km away. Investigations are ongoing to determine the next steps.

Awosoase Epicenter
(Atiwa District)

Start Year: 2007

Phase: 2

Major Accomplishments

• Land has been allocated and is being cleared of huge tree stumps so that construction can begin.

Adensua Besease Epicenter

Start Year: 2000

Phase: 1

Major Accomplishments

• The Besease community palm oil processing machine has created employment opportunities for both men and women. Five women and three men work on the machine. There are women who also go there to process both palm oil and palm kernel oil, others sell firewood at the project site, while food vendors bring their food there to sell to those working. A total of GHC 150 (USD$150) was realized from the operations of the machine. This was divided equally among the community, the operators of the machine and the machine fund (for maintenance).

Zone 2: Suhum Kraboa-Coaltar and East Akim Districts

Ettokrom Epicenter

Start year: 2007

Phase: 1

Major Accomplishments

• One trip of sand was bought by the Ettokrom community to complete the two-unit KG block.

Agyampomaa Epicenter

Start Year: 2007

Phase: 2

Major Accomplishments

• The epicenter land has been cleared and is being prepared for the digging of foundation trenches. 2,000 out of 3,000 blocks have been molded for the foundation of the epicenter building.

Supriso Epicenter

Start Year: 2007

Phase: 2

Major Accomplishments

• The digging of foundation trenches for the epicenter building was completed and 2,400 blocks molded for construction work to begin on the building.
• The Epicenter Committee, together with the chiefs, has mobilized 12 trips of sand for the construction of the building.
• A total of 195 pieces of wood have been mobilized by the Epicenter Committee and chiefs for the construction of the epicenter building.
• About 1.5 acres of the epicenter land has been cleared for cultivation.
• Ten work gangs formed to provide communal labor towards the construction of the epicenter building.

Apau Wawase Epicenter

Start Year: 2007

Phase: 2

Major Accomplishments

• The Epicenter Committee and the chiefs mobilized GHC 1,400 (USD$1,400), which was used to make a partial payment for the epicenter land which costs GHC 2,500 (USD$2,500).
• Two acres of the epicenter land have been cleared for cultivation.
• 14 trips of sand have been mobilized for the epicenter construction. Digging of the foundation trenches has been completed and 3,000 blocks molded for the foundation footing.
• The Amponsaahene community has started digging the foundation trenches for the construction of a three-unit classroom block.

Achiansa-Dome Epicenter

Start Year: 2007

Phase: 2

Major Accomplishments

• Following conclusion of negotiations on the portion of the epicenter land, which originally belonged to the Catholic Church, the community is now geared up to speed up the mobilization of additional sand and stones to add to the one trip of sand and gravel that had been originally mobilized for the construction of the epicenter building.
• In the meantime, two acres of the epicenter land have been cleared for cultivation.

Kyeremase Epicenter

Start Year: 2006

Phase: 2

Major Accomplishments

• Digging of foundation trenches for the epicenter building has been completed and blocks for the construction of the foundation have been molded ready for foundation work to be started.

Akotekrom Epicenter

Start Year: 2006

Phase: 2

Major Accomplishments

• The Epicenter Committee, together with the chiefs, has acquired land for the construction of the epicenter building. The site has been cleared and mobilization of building materials is underway.