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I’ve just returned from an extraordinary trip to Ghana and Uganda, and while I’ll share more in the weeks ahead, I wanted to begin with the first part of the journey — Ghana. Seeing our work firsthand was both humbling and inspiring. Nothing compares.
Meeting so many dedicated people and organizations committed to improving health and lives makes it impossible to leave without a deep sense of hope — and an even stronger commitment to humanitarian work. Over the course of just a few days, I had the privilege of meeting three remarkable women whose lives are dedicated to creating lasting change.
Elizabeth Esi Denyo and Expanding Care for Type 1 Diabetes
Elizabeth Esi Denyo of the Ghana Diabetes Association (left) and Direct Relief CEO Amy Weaver (right) visiting a diabetes clinic in Accra, Ghana.
DAVID UTTLEY/DIRECT RELIEF
In Accra, we met with Elizabeth Esi Denyo, President of the Ghana Diabetes Association, and toured a clinic participating in the Life for a Child program — a partnership between Direct Relief, Eli Lilly, and the Ghana Diabetes Association to provide free insulin to children and young adults living with Type 1 diabetes.
We visited Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra and later Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, meeting dedicated staff and, most memorably, a vibrant group of teenagers and young adults receiving insulin through this program.
Direct Relief CEO Amy Weaver meets with participants in the Life for a Child program at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana.
DAVID UTTLEY/DIRECT RELIEF
A doctor explained that it’s rare to meet an adult with Type 1 diabetes in Ghana — not because the condition is uncommon, but because survival into adulthood is almost impossible without treatment.
In Ghana, as in many parts of the world, the cost of insulin and supplies can exceed a family’s income. Without help, children born with Type 1 diabetes face difficult odds.
Direct Relief CEO Amy Weaver with patients who participate in the Life for a Child program in Kumasi, Ghana.
DAVID UTTLEY/DIRECT RELIEF
Seeing these young people, full of life and potential, was a powerful example of how access to care transforms lives. Their smiles, laughter, and boundless energy offered a glimpse of the hopeful future that’s possible when lifesaving medicine reaches those who need it most.
Ambassador Erieka Bennett and the Power of the Diaspora
Ambassador Erieka Bennett (left) and Direct Relief CEO Amy Weaver (right) of the Diaspora African Forum in Accra Ghana.
DAVID UTTLEY/DIRECT RELIEF
That evening, we had the honor of attending a special gathering hosted by Ambassador Erieka Bennett at the Diaspora African Forum.
H.E. Ambassador Dr. Erieka Bennett, Convening Founder and Head of Mission of the African Union’s Diaspora African Forum (DAF), has dedicated her life to harnessing the talents of the African diaspora for the continent’s growth.
Her diplomatic work connects Africans abroad with opportunities to bring skills, resources, and experience home to create lasting solutions. The meeting brought together key leaders in Ghana’s health sector to explore practical, collaborative solutions for strengthening healthcare across the country.
She introduced us to an impressive group of doctors and community leaders — many of whom returned to Ghana after careers in the United States, UK, and elsewhere — all united in their commitment to improving health and lives.
“The diaspora is Africa’s greatest untapped resource,” she said. “We are here to make sure it builds the future.”
Dr. Beatrice Wiafe Addai and the Fight Against Breast Cancer
Direct Relief CEO Amy Weaver (right) and Dr. Beatrice Wiafe Addai (center) at Peace and Love Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana.
DAVID UTTLEY/DIRECT RELIEF
The next day was a whirlwind I will never forget. We began at Peace and Love Hospital, a breast cancer specialty center founded in 2002 by Dr. Beatrice Wiafe Addai, a global leader in breast cancer treatment and advocacy. Her decades of service recently earned her The President’s Lifetime Achievement Award, one of the highest civilian honors in the United States.
Breast cancer survivors gather at Peace and Love Hospital.
DAVID UTTLEY/DIRECT RELIEF
The morning was filled with joy as a group of breast cancer survivors welcomed us with singing and dancing. Many had received medications provided by Direct Relief and Teva, and their stories were filled with resilience and hope.
These women now use their voices to raise awareness, encouraging younger generations to seek early detection and avoid preventable hardship — something I witnessed firsthand.
Women who survived breast cancer and received treatment at Peace and Love Hospital share a message of prevention and early detection with high school girls.
DAVID UTTLEY/DIRECT RELIEF
Together with Dr. Beatrice and her team, I visited Ejisuman Senior High School in the Ashanti Region, where hundreds of students gathered for an educational session on breast health.
Dr. Beatrice spoke about the importance of early detection, emphasizing that breast cancer is treatable, curable, and survivable.
Breast cancer is reported as the leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women in Ghana. While over 80% of women in the United States survive breast cancer, only about half survive in Ghana. This disparity is largely due to the lack of widespread early detection, making efforts like this critically impactful.
Ceremony with the Paramount Chief in Kokofu, Ghana.
DAVID UTTLEY
From there, we visited a rural clinic and an urban public hospital in Kokofu, seeing how lifesaving medicines from Direct Relief are reaching people across the country.
Before proceeding, we were received at the palace of Barima Offe Akwasi Okogyeasuo II, Paramount Chief of the Kokofu Traditional Area, in the Bekwai municipality of the Ashanti Region.
The visit was an opportunity to convey our gratitude for the warm welcome and to reaffirm Direct Relief’s commitment to supporting local healthcare partners in Kokofu and across the country.
By day’s end, I felt the kind of tired that comes from being deeply moved — and profoundly grateful for the people whose work is bringing health and hope to every corner of Ghana.
Carrying Optimism Forward
Hundreds of girls at a school in Kumasi learn about early detection from breast cancer survivors.
DAVID UTTLEY/DIRECT RELIEF
The optimism I saw in Ghana was anything but abstract — it was evident in the faces, voices, and energy of the people we met. I saw it in a hospital where young adults are living full, healthy lives because they have access to medicine. I heard it in conversations with people applying their skills and experience to strengthen entire health systems. And I felt it in the resolve of women who have survived illness and are now making sure others have the chance to thrive.
The case for optimism is apparent, but it must be met with concrete investments in health and the right medical resources reaching people who need them – now more than ever. And that’s what Direct Relief is resolved to do.
More stories are on the way, but for now, my time in Ghana will remain a lasting reminder of why this work matters — and to what’s possible when people come together, even in challenging times, to create a world that’s healthier, stronger, and more hopeful.
