DIscover...Mission journey to Ganta Hospital
Sarah Metz was a recipient of the Directors Scholarship and served with a Discover…Mission team to Liberia in July 2023.
In may, I was presented with a surreal opportunity to travel to Liberia in Africa to participate in a medical mission trip. We arrived in Ganta, at Ganta United Methodist Hospital, to a home of welcoming arms and excited staff. As a pharmacy student, I was able to practice
hands-on clinical skills that would not be routinely done within the States, and it was rewarding to have so many wonderful mentors along the way to teach me their ways and techniques. Individuals studying pharmacy in Liberia are sparse, and the staff was beyond surprised, and thankful for me to be there. I walked into the doors of the hospital with expectations of learning more than my brain and my heart could handle, and that was beyond achieved. Although I spent time in every single unit, and every unit impacted my heart, there were three units that really impacted myself as a student.
Within the walls of the pharmacy, I learned Pharmacist Barr’s methodology behind stocking, inventory, and common medication administration in Ganta. He was also beyond gracious enough to teach me the administrative side of pharmacy, which I did not even have experience in within the States. Pharmacist Barr’s techniques proved his excellence as a pharmacist, and I was very impressed with the love he pours into his unit.
My participation in the emergency department was overwhelming. After not having much hands-on clinical experience, I was guided in the right directions by Nurse Grace. The staff of the ER were knowledgeable about common disease states in the country, and were more than willing to explain methods of treatment within the hospital. Although there were plenty of differences in care between the States and Liberia, the staff in the ER are very willing to educate their patients, and even visitors like myself, in the importance of adequate healthcare.
In the OB GYN/Labor and Delivery units, I met too many beautiful babies to count. I admire each staff member and their love for their patients and their babies. The nurses took care of each patient as their own children and family.
I found it so easy to connect with these patients and provide care solely because of our
common relationship with Christ. Even in the States, it is difficult to develop a stable patient-provider relationship. Ganta United Methodist Hospital taught me more about your healthcare than a classroom could ever provide, from language barriers, health literacy, fear of new people, and differences in access to care. Everyone was extremely accepting of advice from me, as well as accepting my ways of patient-care within the States. The leader of our team, Samuel Quarshie, was family to our team. Sam put us as his priority, not only as his job for one week while we were there, but he connected with each one of us spiritually and emotionally. Sam showed that the Lord is truly upon us, and He speaks through Samuel. I have never felt more love from other friends who are not considered to be family than I did from Sam. I will forever be thankful for my relationship that I was able to build with him over our ten day trip.
They always say you’ll never truly understand, and that couldn’t be more correct. Even after such heartfelt experiences, I am still at a loss for words to describe my trip. The best that I can come up with is “love”. The love that Ganta has for the Lord is inspiring. The love that Ganta has for their people is unimaginable. The love of your community is untouched. The love given within your care is unconditional.
Even surrounded with new people with different things to offer in aspects of patient care, the families and staff in Ganta United Methodist Hospital still showed unconditional support and love. From our team including an emergency room nurse, a medical student, a biomedical technician, and myself, a pharmacy student, the staff loved each of us as their own. I want to show thanks to our remarkable team on this trip. We all proved our love for Liberia, especially Ganta. We provided our expertise in many different aspects. We grew in ourselves, and it was evident at the end of the trip. Every single one of us proved to be a leader.
I want to give my sincere thanks to each and every one of my supporters from the very beginning of my journey. You all were the reason that I could learn in this new environment. I was overwhelmed with guidance, advice, and financial support from my home church, Gay Street United Methodist Church in Mount Vernon, OH), as well as scholarships from UMVIM. Either with kind words, encouragement, prayers, or financially, you all made this trip possible.
I am proud of you, Ganta. I am proud of the family I have overseas. I am proud of myself and my confidence within your walls. And I am proud of every supporter that helped me along the way. As I said before I boarded the plane: “It isn’t a goodbye, because I’ll be back to Ganta soon”.