Raising a Child in a Developing Country

Presenter: Zoey Broderick-Aryee, Nursing, Global Public Health Scholars

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I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to go to Accra, Ghana for the duration of my winter break. I took advantage of this and completed my practicum while I was there. I worked with an organization named Baby N’ U Galore. Where I essentially worked with mothers in providing them information about hygiene and distributing diapers as well as providing childcare when necessary for these mothers. During this practicum I was able to see the struggles and effects first hand efficient and insufficient hygiene practices. With some of the children I wondered if a child from the U.S. or even the city (of Ghana) could withstand being raised in the same conditions. In previous CPGH classes and FMSC we discussed how the infant and toddler population are some of the most vulnerable and therefore, most important to focus on. With healthier children in a population, they can grow and become healthy adolescents and young adults. With an experience like this I was really able to put the knowledge I have gained into practice in seeing that this was a needed intervention, and I also realized how delicate interventions could actually be because at the end of the day these are real people and you are effecting their lives for the better. The thing is that not everyone always wants the help and in that you must learn to proceed in a manner that is both respectful yet still advantageous.