Doryumu Clinic Expansion

The Doryumu Clinic Expansion Project is an initiative that will be led by YSYF in partnership with the Ghana Health Service and local leadership of Doryumu, a remote community in Southern Ghana, in order to improve care during COVID-19 and access to services covered under Ghana’s National Health Insurance. It is funded by the University of Toronto 2021 COVID-19 Student Engagement Award. 

The remote community of Doryumu in Southern Ghana only has a single clinic. Community members have voiced the need for its accreditation to allow residents to access National Health Insurance, which would reduce medical costs. However, the last step in gaining accreditation is expanding the waiting area to allow for compliance of COVID-19 protocols. 

In partnership with the Ghana National Health Service and local leadership, YSYF will construct a 20×10 ft outdoor waiting area that can hold additional patients while allowing for social distancing. This will reduce the spread of COVID-19, exposure to heat/rain, and improve privacy when obtaining personal health information. The final deliverables will consist of a short video and presentation that highlight the accomplishments of the project. These project activities will take place from July 2021 to September 2021.

The Doryumu Clinic Expansion Project directly addresses gender and geographic inequalities, which fall under SDG 3 (good health and well-being) and SDG 10 (reduced inequalities), as the clinic is used primarily by women and children in rural Doryumu. The rural community of Doryumu faces challenges in access to health and social services, employment, and food. Women and girls are disproportionately impacted, and are less likely to afford care at Dodowa District Hospital than their male counterparts. There is also a 60% rate of adolescent pregnancy in the community, which disproportionately affects girls as they often raise these children on their own. Therefore, they rely primarily on the local clinic for their health needs, including maternity needs.

The global plan for post-COVID recovery necessitates interdisciplinary collaboration, the strengthening of local health systems, and the centering of equity in community rebuilding efforts. YSYF’s project operates under this very framework.