Alberta is a health education champion and an aspiring midwife

Alberta works at a health clinic located in the epicentre building in Obenyemi, Ghana. The distance from her workplace and home means that she spends two weeks working in Obenyemi and then travels to Accra for a weekend to see her husband.

Alberta is passionate about what she does; she loves working with young people and teaching them about health-related issues. Her work is wide ranging and includes reducing rates of teenage pregnancy, supporting pregnant and young mothers with advice on food and nutrition, and getting mothers to the clinic to give birth.

One of the challenges facing women trying to reach the epicentre is the lack of transport network. “Some live far from here, and many do not have a car but maybe a motorcycle. I make home visits and can even go and pick them up with my car to take them to the clinic when it’s time to give birth.” Albert said.

Every week, she visits the two schools that are in the area to talk about the importance of education and the risks of child marriage and early pregnancies. She has initiated a youth club with weekly workshops to help young girls to understand more about pregnancy and its impact:

“We talk about what happens when you become pregnant, that you cannot continue in school but also cannot support a child. I support both those who become pregnant and those who want advice on their future. Some are shy and do not want to talk in group about their dreams, but then they come to me here to the epicentre or when they see me on the street, to talk. They have dreams, some want to become hairdressers or seamstresses, others want to become chefs or teachers, I give them advice on how to get there and make their own money.” says Alberta.

The health clinic also offers guidance to new mothers about nutrition, run by Alberta and her colleague: “We talk about the importance of exclusively breastfeeding their children for the first six months.”

Alberta hopes to become a midwife, for which training takes 4 years in Accra, after being inspired by working at the epicentre.

“Since The Hunger Project came, I have seen a great development here in the area. And for me personally, it’s been a journey. I did not want to be a midwife before, now I want to be there for pregnant mums. The midwives who taught me were an inspiration.” Alberta said.

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