We crossed Lake Volta for the second time, coming back to the island of Bakpa where we had previously met the chief under the mango tree. Meeting under the mango tree means that our meeting was important enough to be accepted by the elders and the chief. Coming back the second time meant that we honored our promise and would now be accepted as friends of the tribe. As our underpowered rented boat approached the shore, the island children recognized the "abrunis" and danced and waved. Soon the news of our medical team's arrival spread throughout the island and we were surrounded by men and women who were excited to have the first medical on the island since our last visit 4 months ago. They quickly directed us to the shady mango tree, produced hand hewn wooden benches and we resumed the friendly conversations that we had suspended months before. As is polite in Ghanian tradition, they inquired about our mission and we honored the chief with questions about his health and his people.
Our mission was to provide medical care to these terribly oppressed people in a way that both honored them and their tribal traditions.
As we erected our modern, portable medical clinic under the mango tree, the people of the village crowded around looking in wonder at the pulse oximeters, the immunohistochemical based lab equipment and the latest medications. Since they were without electricity, we set up solar panels to charge the sodium hydride batteries in our equipment. Since they were without clean water, we implemented water purifiers which employed state of the art electromagnetic chlorinators to provide clean water for the clinic.
As patient after patient came into our clinic to be rid of their various diseases, it occurred to me that we honor them by giving them the best medical care possible and they in turn honor us by allowing us to sit under the mango tree.
Mobile Medical Disaster Relief
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