(C) Daily Kos
This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered.
. . . . . . . . . .



Ghana update: Her Name is Akosua and She is Important Too [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.', 'Backgroundurl Avatar_Large', 'Nickname', 'Joined', 'Created_At', 'Story Count', 'N_Stories', 'Comment Count', 'N_Comments', 'Popular Tags']

Date: 2023-01-31

Anabel is a three year old girl in Ghana who was found wandering the streets all by herself when her ill mother was admitted into the hospital. She had taken her little daughter along and the hospital authorities simply left the girl abandoned to fend for herself when they took her mother into the hospital. Some homeless street children found her and took her along when they went to my friend John to beg for food. john has taken care of the little girl since then. She is currently in a sort of baby care center for children whose parents cannot care for them. We have paid for her care for several months now so that she will not be left to the streets.

I have spoken of Anabel here several times and the wonderful Kos community has stepped up to help John take care of her. I cannot express how much that help has been appreciated.

The latest report is that the baby girl is doing well and starting to prosper. At first she cried all day and wanted her mommy. Her face had broken out with pimples, whether from stress or infection I do not know. But now she is adjusting and seems well and as happy as a child can be under the circumstances. I do not want her to live her life in an institution, but at least she is well and is being cared for.

But what of her mother? Her name is Akosua Meme. She is a person too, and in desperate need.

The hospital refused to treat her because she had no money (I have no idea how they admitted her in the first place; in Ghana they will not treat you if you do not pay up front.) She is mentally confused and unable to care for either Anabel or herself. She used to work in a place that cooked and sold fish but now she is unemployed.

John told me last night that Akosua is now homeless and living on the streets. She has been living as a prostitute as her only way to make money. This is weighing heavily on my heart. It has been absolutely essential that we care for Anabel, of course, and we simply do not have the money to take care of both of them at this time. And there are other factors involved, also.

Unfortunately Akosua’s problems stem from drug use. And this is the issue. I am afraid that simply giving her some money will not solve the problem. Real and serious treatment for an addiction will certainly cost more than a mere trip to the hospital, and I am not sure that serious rehabilitation treatment is even possible there. But I don’t want to abandon her. (I am not asking for money, of course; as I said, I am not sure if money is even the solution, here.)

So here we are.

The photo above is of Anabel and Akosua. I don’t know when it was taken, though John sent it to me in November. They seem very happy together and it makes me sad.

I try to write no more than one of these diaries a week but I think there are those who are interested, and I want the world to know about my Ghana friends. They should not be ignored as if they are nothing.

[END]
---
[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/1/31/2150310/-Ghana-update-Her-Name-is-Akosua-and-She-is-Important-Too

Published and (C) by Daily Kos
Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified.

via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/