The Dabaa Medical Centre has been a focus project for HOPE4HEALTH over the past 3 years. The ambitious goal has been to build a much needed hospital in the rural area of Dabaa in Ghana, West Africa. Through our many supporters, and a huge amount of effort from HOPE4HEALTH volunteers over $60,000 has now been raised. The aim now is to gain an additional $15,000 in order to fit out the centre with all the necessary medical supplies. 

Why Ghana?  Known as the ‘Gold Coast’ of West Africa, Ghana has proved the ideal location for the project for several reasons. Ghana is a constitutional democracy that currently enjoys relative peace and stability for the region. There is also an economic need in Ghana where the local economy has not been able to sustain the population. Currently the people of Ghana rely heavily on international aid and debt relief. Health services in Ghana are particularly underdeveloped in some crucial areas including child and maternal health. Preventable diseases claim the lives of 1 in 10 children every year and maternal mortality rates are 90 times higher than rates in Australia.

The Dabaa Medical Centre project was initiated by a local Gold Coast charity called The Watson Association. The Watson Association hoped to address the specific gaps in maternal and child health services for the people of Dabaa. Of particular concern was the fact that the population of Dabaa travels a minimum of 20 kilometres to reach any form of medical assistance.

After communicating the problems that faced the community of Dabaa to the HOPE4HEALTH Committee in 2006, a partnership was formed and a fundraising campaign was undertaken to ensure the viability of the project. Through a series of events including the ‘Out of Africa’ Jazz Dinner Dance, approximately $60,000 was raised in 2007.

Crucial to the sustainability of the project was establishing an agreement with the Ghanaian Government Ministry of Health so that the Dabaa Medical Centre would be staffed by Government health care workers after construction was complete. This agreement was finally reached after former Griffith medical student, Johnny Chandler, met with local officials and sealed the deal while completing his final year elective!            

To download the 'Special Ghana Edition' of the HOPE4HEALTH quartely newsletter (Winter 2009) please click here.  The newsletter includes further information including the latest architectural plans for  the hospital.

All proceeds from HOPE4HEALTH's premier annual event, the Jazz Dinner Dance, will go towards the Dabaa Medical Centre project.  For more information and to download a ticket order form please click here.