GRID and NEA

sustainable development in Ghana

GRID

Eunice & Nasara

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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.

Prosper (Leyaata Leader), Emmanuel with daughter Catherine in front, Eunice holding baby Nasara, and Mumuni (Leyaata Leader).

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.

An Update on the Impact of COVID-19

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We want to keep you informed of the impact of COVID-19 on our work in Ghana and how we are dealing with this.

While no cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in our catchment area, a growing number of cases have been confirmed in Ghana, especially in the larger cities.

The Government of Ghana has imposed very strict lockdown restrictions throughout the country and its border.

As a result, NEA has temporarily stopped all construction work, including the Leyaata Hospital. Churches are closed and training involved in various projects is on hold for the time being. Visits to the villages are also limited to essential visits only. However, communication with NEA’s network of pastors, Christian Chiefs and Community Based Health Volunteers is done via phone and radio messages. Everyone is encouraged to follow the government’s guidelines and to continue in prayer.

With some NEA revenue streams in Ghana at risk during a time when the opportunity exists to make a big difference, we would appreciate your continued prayer and financial support during this critical time and thank you in advance for these.

God Bless,

Jacques Lapointe

GRID Chair

Susu Stories: Yelesambu’s Joy

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The Leyaata Ane Project is saving the lives of mothers and newborns at birth in 160 communities in Northern Ghana. As part of this project, women receive “susu” (savings) boxes and training to help them prepare for a safe childbirth.

Yelesambu with her baby girl.

Yelesambu recently had a baby girl at her local health facility. She prepared for a safe childbirth by attending antenatal health care regularly.

She also received visits from her community health volunteer, who has been trained as part of the Leyaata Ane project. The health volunteer gave her a list of items that she would need to have for a facility delivery, which would cost about $60. Through the Leyaata Ane project, Yelesambu also received a susu box with about a $4 savings starter, and was taught how to save more so that she could be prepared.

Yelesambu had smiles all over her face when she talked about saving for this birth:

I was able to save 400 cedis. My contribution was not consistent; my savings depended on my sales for the day. The susu box made a great difference compared to my previous deliveries. If I didn’t have the susu box savings, I would not have been able to buy a lot of the things that I wanted. If I have another baby, I will save again and again.

Susu Stories: Judith’s Savings

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The Leyaata Ane Project is saving the lives of mothers and newborns at birth in 160 communities in Northern Ghana. As part of this project, women receive “susu” (savings) boxes and training to help them prepare for a safe childbirth.


Judith chose a safe childbirth at a nearby facility for the recent birth of her baby boy.

About four months before the baby arrived, her husband was in an accident and was unable to be at home with her. Despite the unexpected loss of support, she felt she was well-prepared for this birth:

I used the susu box. I contributed on hundred and twenty cedis. The susu box helped me purchase more items as compared to my first delivery. I bought powder, six bars of soap, and pegs to dry the baby’s clothes. If I were to have another baby, I would contribute even more into the susu box so that I could also buy a bed for my baby.

The susu box (to the right of the items) is given to women along with a small savings starter of 10 cedis (about $4). Women are also given a list of about items (about $60 total) that they will need have with them when they give birth at a facility. Then they are encouraged to save to prepare for birth. Judith’s savings allowed her to purchase all of the items pictured here.

It Changes You

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Blog posts should be brief, but there is no way one could be brief when describing the past two days in the life of our team.

The surgical team put in a gruelling two days in the theatres. Yesterday a large number of children were operated on, and we are thankful to God that their surgeries were successful. Today brought some very difficult and challenging cases — large hernias requiring general anaesthesia — but this team, together with our Ghanaian anaesthetist Eric, have done an incredible job of preventing needless deaths from hernia. Their roster is full and Dr. Magdi has already booked half of the surgical slots for 2017.

Meanwhile, the medical, dental and eye team spent the past two days in the village of Yaara where NEA’s Director, David Mensah grew up. We were greeted by his brother, Chief Joseph, and elders who presented us with yams, fruit and a ram along with a special gift for my daughter Claudia. We were thanked “elephantly” and our visit was declared a historical event.

We worked so hard over these two days in extreme temperatures caring for a very large number of patients who have no access to health care. We wholeheartedly served each person, giving them our very best care at every station of the medical clinic, at the dental clinic under the trees, and in the 39 degree eye clinic at the church. The entire clinic ran efficiently and effectively due to our amazing Canadian and Ghanaian logistics leaders who always have had us home before dark every day.

Despite the incredible suffering and health conditions due to poverty that we see, the mood in the clinic is very buoyant and light and laughter is heard throughout the clinic — especially between team members and our translators.

Each day always brings a few challenges our way, but each one is dealt with collaboratively and quickly with our leadership team and the NEA leadership team. It is a beautiful partnership.

Each day also brings one or two cases that really stand out from the hundreds of patients we see and treat. Yesterday it was a sick baby who caught the eye of our lab technician Tracey just as we were beginning to pack up. I believe that baby would have died that night had she not received treatment. Today it was Dr. Helen’s infant patient — 3 months old with severe malaria who would have been one of the 10 million kids who die every year of easily treatable diseases like this. Due to a great team effort, and God’s grace, both kids survived.

I love this team. Everyone seems intent on going out out of their way to look for opportunities to serve, encourage and cheer each other and the NEA staff on at every opportunity. What fun. What a privilege.

As we approach the mid point of our mission we are all beginning to really appreciate small things we may take for granted at home — like a shower, a toilet, a breeze, like not being constantly soaked in sweat. As Dave said to me at dinner tonight, “Being here changes you”. Witnessing poverty and the effects of poverty with one’s own eyes changes you. Working and serving in challenging conditions outside of comfort zones changes you too.

The team will now enjoy two very well deserved days off. Excursions are being planned by NEA staff. We are all really looking forward to tomorrow night, which is the first annual Ghana Health Team Talent Show coordinated by Dr. Sue!

We are so thankful for the prayers, best wishes and support from so many of our friends, family, colleagues and community. Your support got us here and sustains us here. You can all be very proud of this group of amazing individuals that are representing their professions and countries so very well as they serve NEA and their ultimate vision of long-term sustainable changes in people’s health.

Until next time!

Heartfelt Thanks

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This weekend the Ghana Health Team departs for their two-week health care mission. And, thanks to the generous support of so many, they will be able to set up a fully-stocked, fully-equipped mobile clinic. The team has met their fundraising goal for this year’s mission and has been able to procure the supplies and medicines that they need to provide excellent health care.

A very special thanks to the Jericho Foundation and Makbraneth Foundation, who together have matched every two dollars donated with another dollar. This grant multiplied the effect of hundreds of other donations, and we are all deeply grateful.

Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has donated, encouraged, supported, and volunteered to enable this team leave for Ghana so well-prepared. We look forward to seeing how these contributions, together with the team’s service, are used to positively impact the lives of their patients.

HPIC Provides Health Team with Medical Kits

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Canadian charity Health Partners International of Canada (HPIC) is partnering with GRID for the 2016 Ghana Health Team mission, providing humanitarian medical kits for medical, dental, and surgical needs.

HPIC medical kits contain high-quality medicines that are in-date, and they are offered to our team at substantially reduced cost. This important contribution allows us to stretch our donation dollars further without compromising the quality of care provided.

We are grateful for HPIC’s partnership and support of this mission, and look forward to seeing the impact of the team’s care in Ghana. You can follow along with the 2016 team by subscribing to their email updates.

Team pharmacists use HPIC medicines to fill prescriptions for patients.
Ghana Health Team pharmacists use high-quality medicines, like those contributed by HPIC, to fill prescriptions for patients. (photo courtesy of Erika Jensen-Mann)