Sustainable Development in Ghana
Brenda Mensah has written a post about the Leyaata Project that has been featured on the blog of the Canadian Network for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health.
We are just one small NGO. … But we are a part of the global effort reduce the numbers of babies who die needlessly, and we are committed to “keep doing what we know works” in our corner of the globe.
The whole post is worth reading.
Thanks to funding support from our donors, NEA is able to provide scholarships to students who need financial assistance to attend secondary or postsecondary education. In 2014, we noticed some interesting changes in our scholarship program.
Why is a decline in the number of secondary school scholarships a sign of success? Because the lower numbers reflect a decreasing need for assistance.
As people are becoming more food secure and financially stable, they are able to provide for their children’s secondary school education. It’s always a special moment when a parent tells us, “This year, I had enough money to send my children to secondary school.”
In 2014, the number of women who received scholarships for postsecondary education actually exceeded the number of men. This was a first for GRID and NEA, and we see it as a reflection of a much deeper change that is happening in communities. More girls now have access to primary and secondary education, thanks to their families’ increased financial security. Their parents can afford to pay their fees to attend school, and they can afford to have them attend school rather than working for the family’s survival.
With great sadness we are announcing that the Ghana Health Team’s November 2014 mission to Northern Ghana has been postponed due to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
The decision to postpone was made by GRID’s Executive Director, Dr. David Mensah, in consultation with the leaders of the Ghana Health Team.
[Read more…] about 2014 Ghana Health Team Postponed Due to Ebola Outbreak
Dr. David Mensah, GRID and NEA’s Executive Director, and his wife Brenda have been invited to present at three venues in late summer and early fall of 2014.
David will be speaking at both the 9:00 am and 11 am services. In between services, Brenda will be presenting about GRID and NEA in the Fireside Room.
As part of People’s Global Missions Conference, David will be speaking at all three services that day.
The Ghana Health Team is hosting its annual Night in Northern Ghana as a fundraiser for the team. Tickets are available for the 5:30 pm meal (cooked by Brenda and her crew!) and dessert auction. Following the meal, there will be a program open to all in the auditorium, and David will be speaking during that time. For tickets, please email Kim Lawson.
We are thrilled to announce that the Jericho and Makbraneth Foundations have partnered to offer a matching grant to the 2014 Ghana Health Team. All donations to the team’s general expenses will be matched 1:1, up to a maximum grant of $50,000. [Read more…] about Matching Grant for the Ghana Health Team
Each year a team of 60 health professionals travel to the GRID/NEA project area in Carpenter, Northern Ghana. In two weeks, they treat nearly ten thousand people who would otherwise not be able to access health care. This multidisciplinary team includes surgeons, doctors, dentists, optometrists, nurses … and pharmacists.
The volunteer service of health team pharmacists Susan Fockler, Linda Dresser, and Paula Vanderpluym was recently recognized by the Ontario Branch of the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists, which presented them with the E. Amy Eck award for a Humanitarian/Volunteer Project.
In addition, Susan Fockler, who has been the health team’s lead pharmacist since the first year, was also recently recognized for her accomplishments as Director of Pharmacy at Ross Memorial Hospital. She has led the hospital pharmacy in making incredible gains in efficiency and effectiveness in the past seven years, and in February 2014 received the “Leadership and Best Practices” Award from the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists.
Congratulations to Susan and your teammates! We are grateful for your commitment and service that is making a difference both in Canada and abroad.
GRID and NEA want to improve health in the Carpenter area in a sustainable manner. We have been implementing large health projects and hosting international health teams in support of that dream. Both organizations believe that establishing a hospital in the area may be one of the next possible steps to achieving year-round access to quality health care.
This year, our board members are studying the feasibility of building a hospital in Carpenter. To do this, we need to have accurate information about building plans and costs, and so we have applied to Engineering Ministries International Canada (eMi Canada) for assistance. eMi Canada is a non-profit Christian development organization mobilizing architects, engineers, and other design professionals who donate their skills for projects like this.
Right now, eMi Canada is recruiting professional volunteers to conduct a Carpenter site visit and develop hospital plans so that our board members can make a fully-informed, prayerful decision about launching a hospital. A full team description is available on the eMi Canada site.
If you are interested in contributing to or learning more about this team opportunity, please contact Kevin Wiens of eMi Canada.
