Grateful to Plan, Prophetess Aladura encourages her followers to visit the clinic

Prophetess Afua Banwaa (Aladura) cares for the spiritual and physical health of the members of the Church of the Lord Brotherhood in Baafikrom, Central Ghana Region.  She is a traditional healer and spiritual leader. But now, she also guides her flock to seek health care beyond traditional methods with support and information from Plan Ghana.

Baafikrom in the Central Region is one of the poorest areas in Ghana. Many here do not have access to modern health care, and can only turn to the traditional and spiritual healers like the Prophetess Aladura. Plan has been working in the community to improve access to basic health care.  In partnership with Care International, the Johns Hopkins University and USAID, Plan is reaching out, educating and mobilizing the community about the benefits of modern health services. All the programmes work to change the behaviour of the local population by involving them, and especially community leaders like the Prophetess Aladura, from the start. 

Change starts with one person . . . 

Aladura was invited to participate in a health orientation session sponsored by Plan and Pro-Link, a local partner. Curious, she sent her secretary in her place, who returned from the meeting convinced of the positive application for the church community. Subsequent meetings with the Plan project team persuaded Aladura of the benefits. Now, instead of sending her followers to seek alternative care, she encourages them to seek help at the health clinic and also teaches at Child Welfare Clinic.

“Since we began working with Plan on this programme, we have encouraged people to visit the clinic to benefit from the services available. I recognize that the physical ailments of my followers should be addressed by the trained doctors and nurses, while I handle the spiritual well-being,” said Prophetess Aladura.

. . . and changes a whole community

Staisfied with the project and grateful to Plan, Aladura recommended extending the training to other spiritualists in the region. Even with the support of Aladura and others, people are slow to recognize the benefits of modern health care. But the project team works tirelessly to bring about changes in behaviour that will ultimately improve health.

The Prophetess Aladura summed it up, “Some of the people will not listen to you and may even strongly oppose you but never despair for God will be with you to succeed.” She prays every day, “Paapa Yesu, bless this work and make it successful, bless the people who develop the concept… make the journey of this team smooth back home… Aammen.”

Now, people in the community can enjoy a better quality of life and benefit from the health services

Plan works to strengthen and empower communities through its programmes. By educating and engaging leaders like Aladura, Plan can instigate change across a broad spectrum. Aladura informs people about the benefits of health care and raises awareness of the health services which are available. In creating a dialogue with health providers, district and national leaders, Plan aims to reach 3,600 communities by the end of the project raising the standard of health care. Changing behaviour improves the quality of life, bringing dignity even for those in the poorest areas in Ghana.