My ambitions to study abroad were influenced by the approach of my mentors – Hopkins Student

A Ghanaian graduate from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore Maryland, George Mwinnyaa has said the clear difference between how doctors in Ghana approach treating patients as compared to his Canadian mentors was one of the many reasons that influenced his decision to study abroad.

Speaking on GhanaWeb’s ‘People and Places’ program, he highlighted major differences between the approach to health by some Ghanaian health practitioners and that of practitioners from some European countries.

Having had the opportunity to work with medics from both Ghana and Canada during his days as a community nurse, he narrated how he observed a different approach in the administration of service to patients and how that influenced his resort to study abroad.

He said

“In some of my clinical experiences with Ghanaian doctors and nurses, immediately you say ‘my head, stomach hurts’, they start writing, by the time you are done, they hand you a sheet to you, go to this window (dispensary), they’ll give you medicine. When you go there, they’ll tell you take this, one in the morning, afternoon and evening before you sleep”.

You have no idea what is wrong with you, you have no idea the drugs you are going to take, what it is going to do, but with this team, they do a lot of questioning, do lot of examination.

They are honest, they tell you what you need to know. After my encounter with them that was it. I decided that if I will ever do any schooling, it will not be in Ghana and that whatever it will take me to study out…..it is either studying out or not to study at all”.

George Mwinnyaa is the last born of 32 children from a village in the Upper West region. He never imagined schooling abroad and to talk of the best medical school in the world.

His mother played a key role in his life after his father’s demise; ever ready to sacrifice her life for her children’s education. He endured hardship from basic school through to Senior High School but pushed through the odds to earn some of the best slots in the world’s best health care university; the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Health.

Watch the full interview below