Charity Adusei is a first-year medical student at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson. The 24-year-old is originally from Ghana, Africa, but moved to the United States to attend one year of high school before beginning her undergraduate education at the UA in 2007.
Adusei completed her undergraduate work with a degree in molecular and cellular biology. As she began to prepare for medical school, she knew the transition would not be easy. But, she does have a motivation that has enabled her to commit herself to her coursework at the College of Medicine.
After seeing a disturbing video on the Internet about a hospital in her homeland, she was determined to act as a change agent. Adusei, along with two other individuals, has created a project called, Beds For Life, to create awareness and fundraise. The goal of the group is to raise enough money to purchase beds for Ridge Hospital, where there is a lack of beds, forcing patients to reside on the ground.
Adusei explained that Ridge Hospital was built years ago, before there was such a high demand for good doctors. She said that now, with a higher need, the same facilities and beds are being used. The lack of equipment and overpopulation leaves the women to floor space only.
“Then they are on the floor groaning and moaning, and they have nowhere to go and they are in pain. There is no bed available so basically they all end up on the floor, waiting for their turn on the bed,” she said. “And if luckily their baby decides to come when a bed is available, then they get to have the baby on the bed for like five minutes or 10 minutes. If they are not lucky they have to have the baby on the floor and the conditions are not sanitary.”
Adusei intends to practice obstetrics and gynecology and said she understands that these unsanitary conditions pose problems.
“They don’t even have time to clean this floor because there are always women on the floor. They have only one toilet and the conditions are so bad. I was particularly surprised because this is supposed to be a nice, big hospital. It made me more scared for the small hospitals in the rural areas,” she said.
As a current UA medical student, Adusei is working to fundraise as much as possible to contribute to the cause. She said she also hopes to return to Ghana one day after finishing her education.
“I want to return home to Ghana, that’s always been my goal. After residency, I’m hoping to work here [and] get credible,” she said.
Until then, Adusei said she will continue to fundraise as much as possible to purchase beds for the hospital in her country.
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