Mary Bapuuroh has informed Hopeful Way Foundation that she wants to set up an NGO in Wa to help prevent addiction to alcohol and to assist recovering alcoholics and drug addicts. While in Accra for the training in addiction and recovery held from 20-24 April, Mary spoke about her dream of establishing a centre in Wa. In January, 2009 Mary was informed that funding was no longer available for her position with the addictive diseases unit at Wa General Hospital. Since leaving the hospital, Mary continues to meet with some of her more than 20 patients who had been coming to the unit. With the help of an anonymous donor, she bought 12 chairs for counseling sessions and AA meetings being held under a tree.
Because addiction to alcohol is a big and growing problem in Upper West Region, the Wa General Hospital sent Mary for on the job training in Accra in 2007. After spending six months at the Addictive Diseases Unit at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, she returned and opened a similar unit in Wa in October, 2007.
In the Daily Graphic of 26 May, 2009 an article by Folley Quaye and Chris Nunoo revealed that “only six doctors are manning all the health facilities in nine districts and the Wa Regional Hospital”. The Regional Hospital should have 12 medical doctors but currently has only one with the medical director, Dr. K. Abebrese, doubling as a general medical practitioner, added the Graphic article. The Upper West Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Alexis Nang-Beifubah, was also interviewed and spoke about the “excessive alcohol intake among people in the region” and two foreign researchers who were currently studying the situation. He added that the excessive use of alcohol was both a social and medical issue, which required a thorough examination.
Mary appeals to any individuals or organisations that may be able to assist in realizing her dream of eliminating the suffering caused by addiction to alcohol and drugs in Wa.
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