In 2011, Emmanuel (NEA driver) and his wife Eunice, were excitedly awaiting the arrival of a newborn. When labour set in, Eunice went to the nearest clinic for care, but they lost the baby. We grieved with them. Out of this sorrow came a new realization that this was happening far too often in this area. We discovered that the published national neonatal mortality rate was 40/1000 – closer to 45/1000 in the Northern Region. As a result of this loss came the desire to stop others from facing this tragedy and the Leyaata Project (Rescue Us) was born.
On April 26, 2020, Emmanuel and Eunice brought their new daughter, Nasara, to church to be dedicated to the Lord. Eunice shared that this delivery was also complicated, and she was rushed to the nearest hospital due to complications. After delivery, their baby was whisked away as she was not breathing. But through the Leyaata Program, the hospital midwives had been trained in neonatal resuscitation and they had the tools to help this baby breathe.
Nasara is a beautiful little girl. Seeing her in her parents’ arms with proud smiles on their faces, was such a powerful reminder that she is just one of the nearly 3,000 little ones, who have been rescued over the past four years – and of the sorrow that has been averted.