”Monday Will Not Be For Cowards”

The last words David Mensah spoke to the team on Sunday night were, “Monday will not be for cowards.”

He wasn’t wrong.

We woke to a beautiful, cool morning — so cool that our security guard greeted us at the NEA gate wearing a full balaclava, and several patients who had slept outside to be first in line were bundled in winter parkas. Ghana always knows how to surprise us.

As always, our day began under the gazebo for devotions. Dr. Neil read Psalm 23, alternating each line with our translator. When he reached the final verse — “My cup overflows” — he paused to tell the NEA and Leyaata staff that they are one of the reasons that cup is so full. “You bring joy to our hearts, and this is what draws us back year after year.” Joy overflowed again as we celebrated the news that one of our Leyaata physicians and his wife — a Leyaata midwife — welcomed a brand-new baby into the world.

This is paediatric surgery week at Leyaata. Dr. David Adowia, Dr. Mercy, and our two Ghanaian anaesthesiologists — Fuseini and Adam — are performing roughly ten paediatric surgeries each day, mostly hernia repairs. Long before Leyaata existed, the Hernia International Carpenter teams ran a hernia program right on the NEA compound. Since Leyaata opened, they have partnered closely with the surgeons here, operating side by side to transfer skills and build local capacity. Their partnership continues, but now the day-to-day surgical work is being confidently led by the Leyaata staff. It is a quiet but deeply meaningful step toward local ownership — one we feel privileged to witness. I only wish Rob, Karen, and their teams were here to see it in person.

Brooklyn spent the day in the recovery room with the Leyaata nurses, offering extra hands during this high-volume program — a gift to both the team and the small patients waking up from surgery.

One small but memorable detail: Leyaata has no paediatric gowns, so the nurses fold bedsheets into clever little toga-style wraps for the children. At home, our surgical gowns are printed with cheerful colours, animals, and teddy bears; here, creativity and care make beauty out of what’s available. It made me wonder whether some of our Canadian seamstresses might take on the joyful task of sewing paediatric gowns for future surgical weeks.

Sherry spent time in the Public Health Unit reviewing vaccine storage and learning about the wide range of community programs they lead — from sexual health counselling to menstrual hygiene education to TB/HIV testing and counselling. Their reach is enormous, and their energy is contagious.

The eye clinic has been buzzing, running their primary clinic alongside laser therapy and OCT imaging. To give you a sense of the scope: on Tuesday alone, they saw 90 primary clinic patients, performed laser procedures on 34 eyes, and completed OCT scans for 26 patients. Tomorrow they’ll add a school screening program on top of that.

We wrapped up the day on Tuesday with a workshop on communication skills, focusing on breaking bad news and having meaningful conversations with patients and families facing serious or terminal illness. It was a rich, honest time of learning — and laughing — as we role-played, shared wisdom from our varied experiences, and encouraged one another.

David’s words on Sunday night ring even truer now. It takes courage to be a health professional anywhere, and perhaps an extra measure to work as a global health partner amid unfamiliar illnesses, intense heat, constant change, and limited resources. But working shoulder to shoulder — transferring skills, sharing stories, and learning from one another — our collective courage grows. I often say that teams make me brave. That has never felt more true. The Leyaata team, with their steady skill, compassion, love for their people, and hope, is one of the bravest teams we know.

And in case you were wondering how we refuel our courage in the evenings: Josh and I staged an absolutely epic comeback in a game of Aggravation last night, crushing Garrett and Nicole in what can only be described as a blog-worthy victory.

Dr. Nicole

Dr. Rich

Dan

Bank of eyeglasses.

Martin’s day on laser.

Love Dr. Neil’s backdrop.

Dr. Garrett and Leyaata’s dental nurse.

Pharmacy planning with a smile!

Julie on the OCT.

Dr. McAnthony, Leyaata dentist.

Communication skills workshop.

Role playing for communication skills training.

A special gift for Dr. Tiffany for the Pokua, Leyaata PT.

Run club.

Dr. Josh.

OR team invited Dr. Tiffany to observe a hydrocele repair.

Dr. Michael so kindly speaking to this child before her surgery begins.

Awaiting surgery.

2 children calmly being led to the theatre for their surgeries.

Tracey and Bright portering supplies to the lab.

Pre-op and Recovery team.

Me with Senior Medical Officer, Dr. Mercy, who is coordinating all our GHP teaching sessions.

Jannine and Mavis, providing discharge instructions to the family.

Ella, Leyaata’s dental surgery technician.

DR. JENNIFER WILSON
MD, CCFP (EM), FCFP, DIM&PH, MPH (FCM) CSGH
Director of International Partnerships Canadian Consultant for Family & Emergency Medicine
Leyaata Hospital, Carpenter, Ghana

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