Kwamebikrom Village, Ghana

Kwamebikrom is a small village in the Western Region in Ghana. In 1998 a clinic was started using funds from Murrayfield Parish Church in Edinburgh and since that time a bore hole with a hand pump has provided copious supplies of clean water which at the moment has to be carried in buckets by the people of Kwamebikrom to fill a 30,000 gallon tank above the clinic buildings. The clinic buildings comprise a maternity block, lying in wards and a laboratory and are provided with the necessary pipes and wires for water and electricity.

As a result of the provision of the clinic the morbidity rates in the area have improved year on year. The catchment area for the clinic which also provides Primary Health Care Services comprises over 8000 people.

Since the clinic was opened in 1999 staff quarters have been built as well as a library which is also wired for electricity with a view to establishing an educational centre. The library was part funded by Roseburn Primary School in the Murrayfield Church Parish and an ongoing link has now also been created between the teachers and pupils of the two communities.

A partnership has officially been established between the people of Kwamebikrom and Murrayfield Congregation in Edinburgh with regular meetings between their members.

It is anticipated that the Community will benefit from the Project by being able to communicate with the outside world and share common experiences and difficulties. In an area of significant rurality the need to help the young people through education is mandatory to order to allow the whole community to share in modem day developments.