Global Health, Food & Environment

This course provides an overview of the major challenges in the public health field in Ghana with special emphasis on dietary limitations of the Ghanaian urban and rural populace and the HIV population. These courses were taught by CEO of the West African Aids Foundation, Dr. Naa, and University of Ghana’s Prof. Elsie Gaisie-Ahiabu. This intensive class explores government, NGO, and other program efforts to improve nutrition or access to food, including Sustainable Development Goals which requires government to focus on child nutrition to promote interventions that boost sustainable agriculture. The course includes a three-week field work component (see additional section). I spent one week working in an urban setting with the West Africa AIDS Foundation. The final two weeks are in rural settings working to improve health and food security. I join local residents to identify and document accessibility to food, healthcare, and water; prevailing health needs; the impact of climate change; available resources (in and outside of the community); and proposed solutions to help improve conditions. I had the opportunity to design and implement multiple public health education session and nutritional session for a target audience in each field community. While learning about the epidemics regarding health, food and environment in Ghana. I was also taught to think about practical and culturally acceptable solutions and forms of aid that can be offered to combat these issues. This way of thinking about public health that was promoted in the classroom and implemented in the field is an experience that will remain unmatched by any American educational program due to its unique cultural, religious, and historical circumstances.