The Leyaata Ane Project is saving the lives of mothers and newborns at birth in 160 communities in Northern Ghana. “Leyaata” means “Rescue Us” in Mo.
[Read more…] about Stories of Rescue: From Buswema Health Centre
Susu Stories: Yelesambu’s Joy
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 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
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.
It Changes You
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
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
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.
2016 Ghana Health Team Receives Support from Scarsin
The 2016 Ghana Health Team, departing within the week for Ghana, is grateful for Scarsin’s significant financial contribution toward their surgical program. This is the fourth mission that Scarsin, an Uxbridge-based software development company, is supporting.
Scarsin’s donation will be used to provide surgery patients with safe transportation to and from surgery, as well as care for any overnight stays. In addition, their funding will be used to service or procure necessary equipment to make surgeries safer in an environment that poses many challenges.
Scarsin President and CEO Paul Minshull explained their motivation for involvement:
The ripple effects are tremendous — one surgery will impact an entire family for good. As a local organization with global clients, we believe strongly in giving back to the community. Being able to work in partnership with Dr. Jennifer Wilson and her team to impact a global cause gives me great joy.
GRID and NEA are deeply grateful for Scarsin’s ongoing generous support for this important mission and are delighted to share this funding announcement.
To follow along with the 2016 team in Ghana, please subscribe to receive email updates.
Stories of Rescue: Edith’s Story
The Leyaata Ane Project is saving the lives of mothers and newborns at birth in 160 communities in Northern Ghana. “Leyaata” means “Rescue Us” in Mo.
In April 2016, volunteers Dr. Jennifer Wilson and Dr. Carlye Jensen from Uxbridge traveled to Ghana to train 53 health workers in the techniques of infant resuscitation. Once the health workers were certified, they were given the low-tech equipment needed to resuscitate babies on their own.
Edith-Maud, a nurse in a small health facility, successfully completed the training in April. Soon after the training, an adolescent mother who had lost her husband three months prior, arrived at Edith’s compound to give birth.
When the baby was born, Edith recognized that he was not breathing and was very weak. She used the various steps she had learned in training to clear his airways and stimulate him. When he did not respond, she used the ventilation mask that had been supplied as part of the training. Eventually the baby started to breathe and was able to snuggle with his mother.
Edith joyfully shared, “Without this training, I would not have been able to save this baby. I am now very confident on the job. Thank you!”
This story also appeared in our September 2016 Newsletter.