Mrs. Amissah-Arthur came to the centre a few months ago. It was her first time and she was swept away by the scenery, the cleanliness and the amazing work that the OTC is doing.

On 23rd November, 2016, she returned with more gifts and a promise that she will visit OTC twice every year. She said that is not a political but personal promise she intends to keep. This was a few weeks to elections. She visited Esther who has just return from surgery. The children were delighted to have her come back.

OTC appreciates Her Excellency’s kindness and support, we wish her a merry Christmas and hope to see her next year.

The new Australian High Commissioner, Mr. Andrew Barnes with his wife, son and an official from the High Commission visited OTC last Thursday. The visit was for them to familiarize themselves with the work of the OTC. One of the former High Commissioners, Mr. Billy Williams has spoken to them about the work we were doing.

Sister Elizabeth toured them through the centre. This has become a tradition for welcoming our guests that visit for the first time.  The High Commissioner and his family started their expedition from our workshop. The manager, Mr. Daniel Yeboah explained the activities and sections to the guests. From there, the High Commissioner’s family was led by Sister Elizabeth and the General Manager to the back-compound where the physiotherapists were busy with their weekly clubfoot clinic. Our guests were thrilled to meet the babies and their mothers.

Time with Gifty at physiotherapy

Afterwards, they proceeded to the Children’s department where they ended the children’s anticipation. Mr. and Mrs. Barnes with their son visited Gifty who was having her physiotherapy, the children’s dormitories, and the various classes.

Children sing ‘you are my sunshine’ for the high commissioner

Their visit to the department was crowned with three beautiful songs from the children. The High Commissioner warmed our hearts when he shook hands with each child as the music was going on.

Finally, they visited the Br. Tarcisius Prosthetics and Orthotics Training College. He was very happy to see what his high commission had done. The Australian High Commission under Mr. William’s administration gave OTC a grant to help us build the college, which is becoming a beacon of our time in terms of prosthetics and orthotics.  Mr. Henry Larbi, the principal of the

Mr. Barnes at the college workshop

college received the guest with the head of P&O department, Nana Agyei. They visited all the classes to say hello to the students. The school paused all activities to come out, welcome and say thank you t

It was all together a beautiful experience. Our guest were very interactive and friendly, and somewhere in the darkness they became the children’s sunshine and a part of the OTC family. We were honored to host Mr Barnes and his family. For this priceless gift which is their time, we say ‘Ayekoo’. Long Live Australia!

The wife of the Vice president Her excellency Mrs. Matildah Amissah-Authur visited and donated quantities of school bags and materials for education, two desktop computers, baskets of fruits, bags of rice and maize, and mini gallons oil.

The 2^nd lady was received and toured through the center by the assistant director, Mr. Raphael Amuzu-Dzamashie and Mr. Kofi Ohene the General Manager. She was accompanied by the Regional Minister, honourable Mavis Frimpong and the MCE for Nsawam Adoagyiri Municipal Assembly, Mr. Ben Ayeh.

The last section of the center Mrs. Amissah-Authur visited was, the Br. Tarcisius Prosthetics and Orthopedics Training College (BTPOTC), where she interacted with the principal Mr. Henry Larbi, and with the help of the students she familiarized herself with the program as well.

After the tour, Mrs. Amissah-Arthur was very impressed and said that it was an insightful experience. To our utmost awe, she was also very pleased with how clean and orderly our environment was. She commended the Leadership for maintaining such strict environmental cleanliness. The second lady said Father Campbell of the Christ the King Parish ask her to visit and assist OTC. She also lauded the centre and employees for the good job we have been doing, and encouraged us to do more to ensure quality health-care in Ghana. She used the juncture to call on corporate organizations to support the centre.

Rev. Sis. Elizabeth Newman SSND, director of OTC used the opportunity to thank Mrs. Amissah-Authur for her kind gesture especially for providing resources for quality health care delivery in the country and urged her to continue with her good works.

The primary purpose of OTC is the rehabilitation of physically challenged in Ghana and beyond. We urge all friends and loved ones to support us in cash or kind. Be the hand that put more people on their feet today.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Introduction of Limbs International LIMBS Knee

OTC has the privilege to be the place where people can have a ‘LIMBS Knee experience’. Limbs international has increased access to prosthetic knees used in Trans-femoral prosthesis through the production of the first low-cost, multi-axis knee. Our facility introduced this knee last year, we tried 10 new knees and it was succ-essful.  The clients only complained about the foot which is not cosmetically accepted.  Our technicians have come together to make the foot more acceptable. LIMBS International has requested for a step-by-step video which will be beneficial to other institutions that may be interested in using the foot.

 Mobile Clinic Extension

The mobile clinic Unit (Trek) is spreading their wings and giving more people the opportunity and access to rehabilitation and better lives. The team have two new stops in the Brong Ahafo and Volta Regions. Last year, the mobile clinic unit saw 2,233 patients and traveled 25,000 km.

Workshop

The carpentry and orthotics department of the workshop has modified some of their devices to bring more comfort to our patients/clients. Some of the clients especially children need to use splints during the day. The Orthotics department then put straps on the back slabs to improve the appearance and keep the legs firmly in place. This is to replace the cumbersome bandage. The carpentry department has also changed the style of the crutch head to help it hold the armpit in place and prevent the arms from slipping.

College

With the help of our donors, OTC has been able to provide a hostel facility for the first and second year students at the Bro. Tracisuis Training College. Also, the students demonstrated their devotion to not just their education but the people they will be serving. On 29^th November 2015, they went to give their support at the Dan Devan Disability Sport Festival at the Ohene Djan Sport Stadium.

Employment

The college has increased their human resource by 4 employees; an Administrative assistant, a storekeeper, a librarian and a lecturer. OTC also employed a Public Relations Person and an assistant accountant. OTC is growing and, so is its human resource expanding.

Children’s Department

The children of OTC do not only receive gifts and donations, they are givers as well. During Christmas holidays, the children go out to give gifts and to entertain the patients and staff of the two healthcare providers in Adoagyiri who care of their health needs. This year, they sang the “Twelve Days of Christmas” carol and sent out their glad tidings to the new-born babies and everyone lucky to be in their way.

EVENTS

Beaver Clinic Dental Charity

Beaver Clinic is a dental surgery which have been giving OTC free dental care every two years since 2011. So far this year’s dental care was the biggest dental care charity the surgery has done. In August 2015, they had the third dental charity for OTC, this cost them $15,195 (Fifteen thousand one hundred and ninety five Dollars) approximately GHc60, 780.  There were volunteers from Manchester University, England who assisted in the dental checks and care at OTC and their surgery in Accra.Dr and Mrs Illogu were very excited to help in a way they know best– dental care. Every employee and patients with their caregivers/ parent on admission was seen. According to one of the volunteers, most of the problems were ‘meat problems’ which means broken teeth and holes. She was surprised there were less tooth decay than she thought. With the help of the volunteers from Manchester University, it was a great success.

Ghana International Women’s Club (GIWC) Annual Christmas Party

GIWC has been the Santa Claus of the children in OTC for a number of years. They come around every December to have lunch with them and sing Christmas carols. This year among the many things they did, was to bring along Santa Claus who carried the children, and made some of the children’s dreams of having the opportunity to see him come true. 

First Founder’s Day Celebration

The 4^th of December is the birthday of the noble founder of this great establishment. Upon his death, the management of OTC chose to make Brother Tarcisius birthday a day to celebrate him. On this day, everyone at OTC went to the beach house at Prampram to celebrate him and make merry as we strive to continue Brother’s good work.

Some OTC management Members (Mr. Larbi Henry and Mr.Ohene  Kofi ) from left, with volunteers form Operation Groundswell

Operation Groundswell is a Canadian nonprofit nongovernmental organization that facilitates educational programs and service programs throughout the world. Their mission is to change the way the world travel, hence they backpack with purpose (this is about being conscious and critical of their impact on the community they travel to). Operation groundswell has been in Ghana for the past nine years. Every summer the students come to Ghana to learn our version of global health. This year is their sixth year of Global Health Program, and their program focuses on the different issues facing society they go to. They facilitate workshops that challenge the individual to think critically and objectively about the real meaning of change or making a difference.

OTC has been receiving visitors from both far and near since the center started, all with different missions and from different backgrounds, countries and even language. On 24th July, 2015, we received student volunteers from Operation Groundswell. They were here in Ghana to spend 6 weeks. They will spend their first week in study of urban health care in Accra; the subsequent weeks in application of their knowledge in Cape Coast and Sandema, both as interns and volunteers respectively. OTC was the last stop for their Accra trip.

The co-coordinators of this year’s program, Sarindi and Rebekah visited OTC on 3rd July, 2015, to enquire about, and request their teams visit to the center. They told the management their team will be coming to study about disability and accessibility at OTC on the 24^th of the month. Sarindi and Rebekah told OTC that they chose the center because disability is a very important issue in health, they did not want to focus on the medical aspects of health alone. They want the students to get a comprehensive understanding of health. Also, they said in their interview with Gloria that, they selected the center for the reason of its holistic approach to disability and that is very exciting for them to see. Sarindi and Rebekah want to clear the teams’ preconceived notions of what health in Africa and Ghana is like, hence they want to break the stereotypes down and give the students a whole different point of view to health.

The team on the 24^th of July 2015 came, and were shown around the center. After their tour, they went to the school where they were welcomed by Mr. Ohene Kofi the general manager of OTC, then lectured by Ms. Rachel Oduro the center’s physiotherapist and Mr. Henry Larbi on what we do at OTC, and disability and accessibility in Ghana.

After everything Rebekah and Sarindi told us they were very thrilled about the way the center educates the mothers on how to bring up their children with disabilities. Also how we have all these services necessary for our clients in one place is incredible to them. They liked the fact that we have a school that is formalizing our training and getting more people involved professionally in this field. Finally the team leader, told OTC that their questions where all answered and they like the way Gloria put a face to the success of defying cultural stigmatization.

OTC wishes them well as they go out there to practice all they have learned. Farewell Operations Groundswell.