Help Jacob Serve on Medical Mission Trip to Ghana

Hello family, friends, and friends to be, my name is Jacob Krah. I am a 22-year old Liberian American in my first year at Howard University College of Pharmacy pursuing a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree. With my Pharm.D., I plan on serving marginalized communities, such as ethnic minorities and those from low-income backgrounds, who are often overlooked and mistreated in medical institutions. I also intend on serving people all over the world who are living with deadly diseases and poor health conditions. I want to use the knowledge and experience that I am gaining through my PharmD program to support and improve health infrastructure and outcomes in developing countries.

Fortunately, on December 13th of this year, I will be traveling to Ghana for 11 days with the Gold Coast Medical Foundation (GCMF) to support local efforts addressing public health issues. The Gold Coast Medical Foundation, started by the two brothers Dr. Kwaku Boakye and Dr. Kwabena Boakye, is a non-profit organization dedicated to the achievement of sustainable and adequate health care in developing countries by partnering with local organizations and individuals in those countries. Click here for more information about the organization. See video below to learn more about the trip:

Prior to the trip, I will attend trainings offered by GCMF on cultural sensitivity, social determinants of health, and the diseases prevalent in Ghana. Throughout the trip I will be working in mobile clinics to provide health screenings for the community, donating supplies to and volunteering at the Tetteh-Quarshie Memorial Hospital, hosting food pantries, providing medication to patients in the community and providing wound care for patients. All of these services will be free for the communities we are stationed in. I am very excited to begin to give back to my fellow West Africans and learn more about the state of healthcare in Ghana.

However, I cannot do it alone. I would love support from my community to fund this medical volunteering trip. As a volunteer I am responsible for paying for my own plane ticket, visa application, vaccines, and program fees (which covers my lodging and food while in Ghana).

To be completely transparent, round trip plane tickets to Ghana typically cost $700 - $1500. The Yellow Fever Vaccine can cost around $170 - $240. A visa for travel to Ghana costs $60 for regular single entry. Finally, the program fees cost $880 for meals, lodging and transportation to clinic sites, hospital visits, and other community service programming. My goal is to raise $2500 through crowdfunding and by applying for travel scholarships and grants.

I would be appreciative of any financial support in this endeavor and allowing me to grow into a better global citizen. Regardless, please be praying for the health outcomes of those who are marginalized by the healthcare system and those living in countries with developing health infrastructure.

If you would like to donate to the organization itself, follow this link to learn about their areas of focus and donate. Follow me on Instagram to see updates about the trip!