Ghana Health Team

Tonight at dinner, Brenda Mensah shared the story of her first trip to Yaara village to meet her in-laws. It was one of the hardest days of her life. The trip from Carpenter to Yaara took their young family six hours on treacherous paths and across rivers with no bridges. It was there that she met a very, very sick man who was burning up with fever. She knew there was no way he could survive the journey out of this remote village to receive medical care. The helplessness the Mensahs felt prompted them to begin to dream and pray that perhaps someday, one doctor or one nurse might partner with them to bring health care to places like Yaara.

Over the past two days, our mobile team brought health care to over 1,000 patients in the very village of Yaara. Today’s clinic began with a triage nurse shouting for a doctor to help a sick child who had been bitten by a cobra. Dr. Helen was available and she and our nursing team spent a number of hours caring for this child. It turns out, she was sick from pneumonia, not the cobra, but our pharmacy was prepared with anti snake venom in their battery operated cooler just in case.

Speaking of pharmacy, our pharmacy program is truly a wonder. Don’t get me wrong, we all work extremely hard, but our pharmacists carry the heaviest load. They spend an entire year organizing every medication we might need for the medical, dental and eye team. They also help procure for our surgical and anaesthetic colleagues. Medications for chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension are strategically chosen to match what is available in Ghana so that patients can renew their medicines locally. Dosages and length of treatment are all decided based on WHO standards. They receive every prescription the physicians write into their automated system, put up with our handwriting, dispense it, double check it and then counsel the patients on how to properly take it. Then, when the day is done and we are all playing euchre and games in the residence, they are preparing medications for the next day. I don’t know how Linda, Sherry, Martha, Lisa, Karen and Kirlis, together with NEA’s pharmacy graduate Emmanuel do it, but our pharmacy program is instrumental to the care we provide and to the success of our mission. They are super-heroes.

Speaking of medications, we have started a new club on the compound called the “Cipro Club”. This is the medicine you take for travellers diarrhea and, yes indeed, it seems to be “running” through our ranks. Thankfully, it is short lived and we all get great care from Dr. John, our team doctor.

Back on the compound, 34 operations took place and we are thankful that there were no complications, adverse events, fires or floods. Dr. David Cressey remarked at what a tightly knit group they are after only working together for three days. It was interesting to note that we saw very few large hernias in Yaara over these two days, as over the past 10 years, our surgical program has come close to eradicating them. Our emergency patient from yesterday underwent a successful surgery today and will be heading back to his village tomorrow.

Dr. Josh and Marion had the laser up and running today with Dr. Martin supervising and it seems that word has spread even to Accra that NEA is providing this service to treat glaucoma. Despite Ghana having one of the highest rates of glaucoma in the world, NEA is the only organization with this laser. What an exciting service that the Leyaata Hospital will be able to provide for the entire country in the near future and discussions and planning are underway.

All in all it was another rich and rewarding day and just so special for us to hear that we are part of a dream coming true and a prayer being answered for the Mensahs, NEA and this land.

Dr. Jennifer Wilson, MD, CCFP(EM), FCFP, DIMPH

A small scandal broke out on the compound this morning when someone let it slip that the surgical team had air conditioners in their residence. I thought the rest of us staying at the beautiful Nim House took the news quite well, until one of the surgeons complained he was a little chilly when he woke up this morning.

The mobile team set off for our first village clinic at 7:00 am. This journey along the narrow dirt road was such a stark reminder of how difficult life must be for rural Ghanaians. We passed women carrying large buckets of water and batches of firewood on their heads, farmers toiling by hand in the hot sun, and children carrying swaddled babies on their backs. We also saw many signs of hope and development along this road as we passed new bridges, school yards full of children, community wells, community latrines and more and more tin roofs as opposed to thatched roofs. NEA’s handprint is everywhere.

A delegation of first time team members joined me to greet the Chief, Queen Mother and elders of the village, but we collectively decided to keep the ceremony brief as the crowd was so large. The NEA team left the compound at 4:00 am this morning and had the entire clinic set up and ready to go so that we could begin work immediately.

A clinic of this magnitude is only possible due to the amazing team of translators and operations volunteers. Our translators wear blue shirts and they are with us during every moment of the day. Our operations volunteers wear yellow shirts and they manage the crowds and stand at every door of every classroom and circulate throughout all areas of the clinic to help control and direct the flow of patients. Our sea of yellow, blue and white shirts worked side by side all day long as we cared for each patient, one at a time, even as the thermometer peaked at over 40 degrees.

One of our sickest patients today was a precious little three year old with severe malaria. Nurse Karen brought her directly to our nursing station from diagnostics where Jessica, Lauretta, and Val attended to her all afternoon. She made a miraculous recovery, munching on a snack as she left the clinic. The dentists were busy all day and had one case that was so difficult that it required all three of them to work together.

Back on the compound, the surgical team had a full day in theatres and were not slowed down by a small flood caused by one of the sterilizers. Rita, one of our Ghanaian nurses who is training with the team, proudly did her first solo assist with Dr. Magdi.

During dinner this evening, a man who was awaiting surgery on Thursday, developed a strangulation of his hernia. The team didn’t think twice about leaving their plates of food unfinished as every moment counts in this situation. Thankfully, the team was quickly able to sedate the man and successfully reduce the hernia. Our two students Josh and Elsa, together with Dr. Mensah, were able to witness this life-saving procedure. For those of you who are not aware, Dr. Mensah’s father and grandfather lost their lives at a young age due to this very condition, so this was a profound moment indeed.

Thanks to our supporters for their wonderful comments that are read to us by Kim at the end of every day. We laugh and cry, and feel so connected to home when we hear from you.

Dr. Jennifer Wilson, MD, CCFP(EM), FCFP, DIMPH

A lot happens in a day around here.

This morning we gathered under the gazebo for a service of commissioning prior to beginning our work. I thought our collective singing was very enthusiastic until Dr. Mensah announced “Your singing is weak”. That was all it took for the clapping and dancing to begin! Dr. David, a young Ghanaian physician remembered operating on his very first hernia under the instruction of our surgeons years ago. Just before the surgery, the patient told him, “This hernia is older than you are son”. He thanked our surgeons for giving him the courage to repair it. Soale shared an inspiring message from the book of Mark about how beauty and joy come after the storms of life. He challenged us not to ever give up during a storm because the impact of our efforts will be beautiful. Dr. Mensah commissioned our Canadian, UK, German, and Ghanaian team with words from the book of Nehemiah, when Nehemiah challenged the people to rebuild the wall around the city. He explained that ill- health, hernia, glaucoma and infections all represent broken down walls that humiliate and destroy the lives of his people. Our work here is rebuilding walls and he challenged us with Nehemiah’s very words — “let us rise up and build”.

It was very symbolic that our entire group then set off to witness the building of NEA’s Leyaata Hospital. Many of us have been involved in the planning of this model hospital, but today we saw this symbol of hope rising up with our very own eyes. Our physicians stood together in the future emergency room where lives will be saved every day. Linda, Sherry and the pharmacy team stood in the future pharmacy, where life saving medications will be available to all. Mr. Rob, Mr. Magdi and the entire surgical team stood in the future department of surgery, where four operating theatres will be functioning every day of the year. For those of us who have been collectively working with NEA towards the goal of sustainable health care, it was a day we will never ever forget.

And that all happened before our work day even began.

Our medical, dental and eye teams, together with our fleet of translators and volunteers, had the privilege of providing care this afternoon to 400 of NEA staff and their loved ones. And my goodness — I could not believe how efficiently all systems were working for day one. Meanwhile, our surgical team had all operating rooms up and running, listed 69 patients and completed 19 surgeries including one general anaesthetic. Bex was glowing as she provided a report on a spectacular afternoon they had in the theatre.

The volume in the dining hall this evening was so loud that I could barely hear my table mates talking. Enthusiasm and energy are high, knowing that we all have day one under our belts. We concluded our day by Dr. Josh leading us in a time of sharing and silence for Remembrance Day. As we remember the price others paid for our freedom, may we all be challenged to rise and build a world where all men, women and children can grow strong and free.

Dr. Jennifer Wilson, MD, CCFP(EM), FCFP, DIMPH

Whenever one speaks of a success or a triumph or a safe journey in Ghana, people often respond, “We thank God.” In my opinion, it is the most appropriate response to the last 24 hours.

Despite multiple flight delays and a few interesting glitches (that will probably be funny in hindsight) , our entire team of 59 landed in Ghana within ten minutes of each other. What a sweet reunion it was! We came from Ottawa, Toronto, Manchester, Newcastle, Belfast, London and Hamburg. Our people and every single one of our 200 bags arrived safe and sound. We are grateful for the amazing team at KLM, Raptim, Greater Toronto Area Airport Authorities, and Canadian Air Transport Security.

A fleet of wonderful NEA staff greeted us outside the Accra airport, and before we knew it, the NEA truck was loaded, and we were whisked off to our hotel. Despite the late hour, the hotel staff were ready and waiting.

Then this special 2019 Ghana Health Team enjoyed our first meal together.

We raised our glasses to our new friends — 14 brave team members joining us for the first time.

We raised our glasses to old friends — how special our bond has become over so many years of working together for such an important purpose.

We raised our glasses to our families and all our donors whose support has made this mission possible and whose best wishes and prayers will sustain us in the days ahead.

Ah, Ghana! It is a privilege to be here. We thank God indeed!

Dr. Jennifer Wilson, MD, CCFP(EM), FCFP, DIMPH

Dear Team,

Without fail, I always wake up on this day — the day the Canadians depart — with a quotation from Mother Teresa ringing in my ears.

It has become an important reminder for me of the mindset we need to have over the next three days.

It is time to let go of our preparations that have consumed our minds for a year now.

It is time to let go of any fears we may have about what the next fortnight shall hold. It is time to begin.

It is time to get on with the work that we were born to do.

We’re all in this together, (insert High School Musical dance moves),

God is with us, and we’ve got this.

Let Us Begin!

Dr. Jennifer Wilson, MD, CCFP(EM), FCFP, DIMPH