GRID and NEA News

2024/03/16 By GRID

Since 2007, dedicated health professional volunteers from Canada and the UK have been receiving tremendous support from their families, friends, colleagues, and communities. Last year, the team made two trips to provide training and mentorship to our Leyaata Hospital staff. More than 60 trainees received training in various departmental courses. In nine days, 90 surgeries were performed by the surgical team led by *Mr. Rob Hicks, 50 patients received dental care and the eye team treated 400 patients.

*in the UK, surgeons are referred to as Mr. not Dr.

” Through Ghana Health Partners, we’ve witnessed the transformative impact of hernia mesh repair on our patients. After training with lead surgeon Mr. Rob Hicks in November 2023, I transitioned from traditional methods to utilizing mesh. This evolution is mirrored by colleagues at Leyaata Hospital, sparking hope for expanded collaboration and opportunities for Ghanaian doctors.”

DR. BENJAMIN ASUBIOJO(MEDICAL DIRECTOR, LEYAATA HOSPITAL)

As we work towards sustainable development, we look to our deep connections and relationships with communities, partners, and most importantly with God!

In partnership with the Government of Canada, the Babanayaa Project was initially planned to help 750 women farmers. Fortunately, at the end of the third year, it was realized that the project budget could allow for an additional 250 women in ten new communities. Chiefs, Assembly members, Community-Based Surveillance Volunteers, and women leaders were tasked to select the beneficiaries based on the criteria given (women with many children – five or more, widows, and women whose husbands were incapacitated as a result of prolonged illness).

Janga, the first community GRID & NEA worked with, became sustainable in 2000. Last year, the need for a dormitory for the many female students walking 6 km to and from school daily was presented. Our close connection with the community and local government officials made us aware of the need. Lodging at the school site will protect the students from the high risk of sexual assault and give them more time to study and excel. St. Paul’s Leaksdale (SPL) congregation responded swiftly and generously. They raised half the funds in December and challenged everyone to dig deeper. Before the end of February, they exceeded the $175K funds needed to build the dormitory.

“This kingdom project hit us all very hard – the injustice demanded a response from God’s people and they responded, indeed!”

DR. JENNIFER WILSON (SPL MISSIONS COMMITTEE CO-CHAIR)

Deep relationships with our church and Christian foundation partners made it possible to expand the Good News to many. Westney Heights Baptist Church has sponsored 13 Bible College scholarships. Uxbridge Baptist Church and Christ Community Church in Bloomington have been providing training to our local Ghanaian pastors. Last year, two more churches were built, and one more congregation was established.

Every year, we are so pleased to share with you what can and has been accomplished on a very modest budget. Thanks to the faithful giving and prayers of our partners and friends, and the effective work of our NEA colleagues, together, we are helping to make a tangible difference in the lives of those we serve in Ghana. This is the Lord’s work and has been the hallmark of our GRID-NEA partnership for 40 years.

It is quite unusual for us to point to a particular need, but this year … the Leyaata Hospital needs our help!

While we were able to complete the construction and equipping of the Leyaata Hospital debt-free, the extra cost of completing the hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic did necessitate that we use some of the funds that were earmarked in our fundraising budget for the expected operating deficit during its first three years of operation. Just the thought of a new hospital becoming self-sustaining after three years, anywhere in the world, is almost unimaginable, but the Leyaata Hospital is well on its way to making this a reality.

The great news is that over 30% of operating expenses were provided by the hospital’s income-generating initiatives in 2023, its first year of operation. It realistically expects and is already well on its way to cover over 60% of its operating expenses in 2024 and 85% in 2025, the hospital’s third year of operation.

We need to raise $500K to make up the shortfall that will get us to self-sustainability by the end of 2025. We are asking especially those who have already contributed so much to the hospital capital campaign and to those who are now able to join in this to dig a little deeper one more time to make a reality of something thought impossible.

As always, we see our responsibility as bringing the needs to your attention. Now, it’s as the Lord would lead you. Thank You!

TRIBUTE – HAROLD EUGENE PAISLEY

Eugene was pivotal in launching GRID, visiting Ghana early on and then serving as one of the first board members. On February 5, 2024, he passed away peacefully with family by his side. We greatly appreciate Eugene’s commitment and contribution to the work in Ghana. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Paisley, Mensah and Weber families.

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https://grid-nea.org/2024/03/2023impactreport/

GRID & NEA IMPACT UPDATES (NOVEMBER 2023)

2023/11/16 By GRID

This year marks a special anniversary for GRID & NEA. Forty years ago, Dr. David Mensah received a distressing letter from his family in Ghana telling him three family members had died of starvation. As a result, students and faculty at Acadia University in Nova Scotia, along with local churches, rallied together to raise funds to help the people in Ghana. These efforts were also carried on in Ontario by Dr. David’s father-in-law, Gene Paisley. The response to the devastating tragedy in Ghana was the beginning of The Mensah Food and Orphanage Fund, now known as GRID (Ghana Rural Integrated Development).

In June, the GRID leadership team gathered together to celebrate forty years of partnership between GRID & NEA. We are so grateful for the great things God has done through us and you, our faithful, generous partners and supporters for four decades.

GRID Leadership Team celebrating forty years anniversary of GRID & NEA’s partnership during the 2023 Annual General Meeting.

A stroll down memory lane allows us to see the impact we made together over forty years in Northern Ghana.

1983 – 1993

The Mensah Food and Orphanage Fund (later registered as GRID) was established with the help of Colbrook Baptist Church and the late Rev. Doulas Porter, GRID’s First Board Chairman.

In 1988, Partnership Africa Canada (the aid arm of the Government of Canada that preceded CIDA) approved a grant for the commencement of The Janga Project and additional grants over the next decade for activities to be scaled up.

The Mensahs moved to Ghana to implement the project. Work began in Janga with women’s peanut farming. Wells were dug, tomato farming tested, and many more development projects were initiated. The first volunteer team from Ontario Bible College (now Tyndale) came to help in Janga in 1992 and several groups of volunteers followed over the next years.

1994 – 2003

Conflict erupted in Northern Ghana. Dr. John Schram, the former Canadian High Commissioner asked Dr. David if he could assist in restoring peace in the area. Dr. David met with previously warring tribes to start a project together to reconstruct a local market. As challenging as it was, tribes that had been in conflict came together to complete the task.

Dr. John Schram with the chiefs.

Through advisory work for The Body Shop, Dr. David was instrumental in assisting the Tungteiya women’s shea butter cooperative to be managed effectively. To this day, 650 women continue to supply shea butter to Body Shop.

One of the members of the women’s shea butter cooperative.

After years of living out Christ’s love by providing basic needs (water, food, and help for the sick), the first church was established in Janga upon the invitation of the late Chief Sooh Naba.

As Janga achieved sustainability, we began to search for where we should work next. Bole District, one of the largest and poorest in Ghana, did not have any working NGOs. We targeted the Deg area, one of the poorest sections of the district. The local chief gave us land, and the Janga women’s co-op gave the Deg women’s co-op 60 bags of peanuts to start a farming program. The Carpenter Project was launched.

Although there were similarities between Janga and Carpenter, there were also a few differences. We had to emphasize environmental protection in Carpenter, as people burned trees to produce charcoal and fishermen used chemicals to catch fish. Over 600 volunteers formed the Nensom Environmental Watchdog group, who patrolled over 200 km of the Black Volta River to ensure that poison and illegal nets were not used in fishing.

Partners from Canada and US came to build schools and warehouses, teach at the local schools, and train Ghanaian pastors as churches grew.

2001 Carpenter School Build

During this decade, the Ghana Ministry of Food and Agriculture honoured NEA as the Best NGO in Northern Region.

1994 – 2003

They said growing fish in Northern Ghana couldn’t be done. Nevertheless, in 2004, the Carpenter Aquaculture program opened. The program addressed the need to provide people with the missing protein in their diets. The North Mo chiefs honored Dr. David and Brenda and they were enstooled as Chief and Queen Mother of Development of the North Mo tribe.

Fish harvest at the Carpenter fishpond.

This decade was a time of expansion. More wells were dug, co-ops increased, more schools were built, and farms expanded.

A medical mission was launched and the first medical team arrived in Carpenter in 2007. Thousands of people from over 50 villages came to the clinics. Many lives were saved, and many people were healed! The team met Dr. Kingsnorth, co-founder of Operation Hernia, on their flight to Ghana. It led to a partnership that has lasted more than a decade.

2008 Ghana Health Team Medical Mission

In 2008, Dr. David Mensah fell heir to a family chieftaincy title, paving the way for reaching out to area chiefs and steering the entire tribe.

Since 1998 CIDA (now Global Affairs Canada) has funded GRID development projects. In 2009, as we came to the close of a CIDA-supported project, a formal evaluation was launched. One of the recommendations was that CIDA should use GRID & NEA as a model for its other development initiatives. Leyaata Project was approved, which has reduced mother and infant mortality in 82 villages.

For several years, we desired to bring together the Christian Chiefs who were scattered over the northern half of the country. In 2010, this became a reality. Over 120 chiefs from 13 tribes came (this organization has since grown to over 250 Christian chiefs). Carpenter has become their ‘Jerusalem.’

The church continues to expand, and the first Pastors’ Conference happened in 2011, with 75 pastors and church leaders from 35 established congregations attending.

2011 Pastors’ Conference

2014 – 2023

It’s a decade of challenges and celebrations. We started with the devastating news of an Ebola outbreak, giving birth to a strong desire for sustainable, quality health care of a model hospital in the Northern Region of Ghana. A team from the Engineering Ministries International (eMi) came to conduct a feasibility study.

Then, we celebrated as the Mensahs received the 2015 Millenium Peace Award. In the same year, the Carpenter Hospital campaign was launched, GRID USA was established, and the Leyaata Ane Project – extending the program to 80 more communities – commenced. In 2018, we collaborated with the Government of Ghana in supplying 2M fingerlings for the entire Northern Region.

Together, in 2019, we crossed the fundraising finish line for construction of the Leyaata Hospital in Carpenter. And then Covid happened. Amid the crisis, we saw sustainability at work! With various income-generating projects, NEA was able to provide food and income to its staff, their families and the communities we serve. And your generosity was astounding!

In 2021, Leyaata Ane finished and Babanaya Project began – improving the well-being of women and girls in 30 communities. NEA was awarded as the Region’s Best Fisher. Then, in 2022, we celebrated the grand opening of the Leyaata Hospital. Many build projects were completed at the same time, such as the Carpenter Church, dormitory, other churches, dams, wells, KVIPs, etc.

2024 – – – Looking Ahead

by: Jacques Lapointe

Scripture encourages us to make plans because the Lord will order our steps. So, as we look ahead and upward for direction, we hold fast to this principle of dependence on the Lord in all aspects of our work and planning.

As we look ahead to 2024 and beyond, here is how we see the way forward. Continuing to establish the Leyaata Hospital as a model is a top priority. In its first year of operation much has been accomplished and we continue to build on this. Ghana Health Partners is a team of seasoned professionals from Canada and the UK who have worked closely with the excellent team at the hospital toward establishing its excellence. Construction of the new junior staff housing will be a great encouragement to those who have been patiently waiting for improved accommodations.

NEA has identified new projects and programs in agriculture, aquaculture, education and several others. These creative, astute plans build on what has been accomplished already in these areas. These represent a quantum leap forward in sustainably meeting needs. As resources permit, we will continue to expand our reach with the Good News.

The vison for new opportunities is clear. As always, the need rests with you, our generous donors, as the final piece to make the future as bright as the past.

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GRID & NEA IMPACT UPDATES (SEPTEMBER 2023)

2023/09/28 By GRID

The statement above is from the grandmother of an eight-year-old girl diagnosed with leprosy.

Emmanuel Jackie, a local pastor who received training to detect NTD (Neglected Tropical Diseases) through our Wi Songla Project (in partnership with American Leprosy Missions) saw Mankere. She had patches of discoloration on her hands, and she would cry at night because she was in pain. Pastor Jackie encouraged Augustina to take Mankere to the hospital.

Having seen leprosy’s effects when left untreated, she got scared. Thankfully, Mankere was diagnosed early and started treatment right away. She is already seeing improvement and has been able to return to school and play with friends again.

Beatrice, one of the physician assistants, stressed how important it is to get proper training to detect NTDs, yet she still summed up her work: “As clinicians, we do all that we can, but it is God who heals.”

Mankere and Augustina – full of smiles.

Smiles are on the faces of thirty-eight young girls who have been sponsored to embark on tertiary education.

Sponsoring young girls to further their education is part of the Babanayaa Project’s commitment to empowering women in rural communities in the Savannah Region of Ghana. While mothers receive help to better their livelihoods through peanut farming and other income-generating interventions, young girls in their communities can now fulfill their dreams of being in school like their privileged counterparts in big towns and cities. It has left unfading smiles on the faces of underprivileged mothers and young girls whose worries have been taken care of.

In the previous years, twenty-two young girls were sponsored into senior high schools and various tertiary institutions. Nine have completed while the rest are still in school. Thanks to our ongoing partnership with the Government of Canada and you, our faithful partners, for making their dreams come true!

Some of these young girls had this to say when they visited NEA for their school fees.

Charity is a native of Sonyor and a first-year Medical Laboratory Technician student at Wa Technical University. Her dad passed away about half a decade ago. The responsibility of caring for Charity and her other siblings rested on her widowed mom.

As a widow, Charity’s mom is into peanut farming, which does not earn her enough to see Charity through tertiary education. With the educational support they received, her mom can save the little she gets from her farming activities to feed her younger siblings.

CHARITY YOMBA GBOLO

Fedilatu is a second-year student at Tamale College of Education. It is her dream to become an educator. Her parents are old and unable to raise funds to pay her fees and settle other bills in school. Fedilatu was in tears as she narrated her situation.

FEDILATU ALHASSAN

Our Babanayaa co-op women are bringing hope and smiles to many more women.

Although these women are from deprived, vulnerable and poor backgrounds, nevertheless, they are selfless. They continue to think of women in their communities who are in situations similar to what they found themselves prior to the implementation of the Babanayaa Project.

As a result of their selflessness, co-op leaders have encouraged their members to identify one vulnerable woman in their community and give them a bag of peanuts to start a peanut farm.

Currently, all 500 women of co-op batches one and two have done this. The additional 250 women in batch three plan to do the same after their second harvest.

Co-op women happily helping other vulnerable women with sacks of peanuts.

Babies are bringing smiles to our Leyaata Hospital staff.

The attendance at the maternity wing is increasing. On the hospital’s opening anniversary, three girls had been born that morning. At the close of the day, the ‘match’ had concluded with a score of three for the girls and two for the boys. Together, we praise the Lord for rescue after rescue!

The twin girls who were first to arrive.

As you celebrate Thanksgiving next week, may the unfading smiles of Mankere, Augustina, Charity, Fedilatu, the Babanayaa women and the babies bring smiles and hope to you, your families and friends.

Thank you for all you do to partner with us to bring hope and smiles to those in great need!

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GRID & NEA IMPACT UPDATES (JULY 2023)

2023/07/15 By GRID

OUR IMPACT: STATS & STORIES

Earlier in June, the GRID board and leadership team met for the annual general meeting. We looked back at the many great things WE (you and us) have accomplished together to carry forward our mission of meeting the basic needs in the communities we serve in a sustainable and integrated manner, motivated by Christ’s love.

The stats and stories you will read here speak of the great impact of transforming lives and communities we are blessed to partner with together.

Since the opening of the doors of Leyaata Hospital, the numbers of patients and visitors increase daily as the staff serve and provide quality healthcare for the people in the Carpenter area and far beyond. There have been several emergency obstetrical cases that have come where the patients had very little time on their side, but they survived. It’s with great excitement we share some stories and statistics of lives rescued.

BLOOD BANK

Keeping the blood bank stocked is vital. NEA staff were the first donors, the Ghana Health Partners added to this and recently, a blood donation clinic was set up at a nearby secondary school to fill the fridge. The hospital is liaising with other hospitals within a three hour radius to set up a loan and exchange system so that blood does not expire and so that all types are available. Recently, a woman was referred to the hospital with life-threatening post-delivery complications. She depleted the hospital’s stock of her blood type and three staff quickly donated blood to save her life.

**Dr. Anne, the first GHP donor. Her blood never made it into the blood bank; it went straight to a patient’s arm.**

As can be seen by the numbers below, the Leyaata Hospital is already impacting thousands – one patient at a time!

CHURCH GROWTH

Dr. David Mensah had a great zoom call with the ECAC leadership team last week. They were pleased to report that a new congregation has been established in Wasipe. The youth are excited and busy preparing for their annual youth conference in August.

The leadership has met with the new Bible School graduates and have decided on the communities where they will go to begin their ministry.

Pastor Janet Nyaahbolsom, one of the new graduates, was awarded the SRC Welfare Minister citation for her exemplary leadership and contributions to the growth and development of the Ghana Baptist University College.

They also reported on the great progress of the construction of the three church buildings. One is completed and two are under construction.

Each pastor nurtures at least two congregations. Please pray for the pastors’ safety as they move about on their motorbikes from congregation to congregation.

***ECAC leadership team on a zoom call with Dr. Mensah at the Carpenter Church.***

The Babanayaa Project seeks to empower rural women through livelihood empowerment interventions such as peanut farming, animal husbandry and educational sponsorship for girls. Prior to the project, many young girls did not aspire to be in school due to the cultural norms which accorded males much higher educational opportunities to be in school at the expense of their female counterparts. The few girls who wanted to be in school could not afford it.

The introduction of the female education program opened doors for several girls, including Faustina. Her dad passed away when she was in her final year of high school. A year later she completed high school with distinction, but her single mom could not afford to enroll her for post-secondary education. Thankfully, she heard of the Babanayaa sponsorship program. She applied and was awarded a scholarship. A door has opened for Faustina to become a nurse.

Twenty-two young women have already benefitted from the scholarship program and 38 more have been approved for scholarships this year. This is possible because the cost of scholarships for the 60 girls is still within the budgeted amount of our original proposal for 30 girls. We are grateful to you, our faithful sponsors, and to the Government of Canada for their funding support.

FAUSTINA NADOWLINAA

As the number of people and communities we serve grows annually, we also thank God for the new GRID leadership team members joining our board this year.

DR. CHARLES & SANDRA PENISTON

Dr. Charles & Sandra have been part of the Ghana Health Team/Ghana Health Partners since 2009. As a highly regarded cardiovascular surgeon, Dr. Charles plays a vital role in rescuing thousands of lives. Sandra is an Assistant Professor at York University’s Faculty of Health – School of Nursing and actively mentors our Leyaata Hospital nursing team.

CHERYL WEBER

Cheryl has been in broadcasting for over 20 years and currently co-hosts 100 Huntley Street, where she interviewed Dr. David Mensah in 2013. Cheryl is a public speaker, versatile national and international reporter and producer. She is also the Director of Crossroads Cares Relief and Development.

LYNNITA WEBER

Lynnita was GRID’s Senior Program Manager from 2009 – 2019. She was very instrumental in the success of the Leyaata & Leyaata Ane Projects. Currently, she is pursuing a PhD in Organizational Leadership. She is also the Executive Pastor of St. Paul’s Leaksdale Church, one of our committed church partners.

Your steadfast support, partnership and generosity make it possible to extend our outreach efforts to care for the most vulnerable through (i) sustainable peanut and goat farming, (ii) building community fishponds and gardens (iii) providing scholarships (iv) keeping people healthy through the Leyaata Hospital (v) providing access to clean water and (vi) equipping local church leaders to serve their congregations and stand in their faith. Together, we will continue to serve those in great need!

We look forward to sharing more stories and increased stats of lives transformed this year.

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2023/03/04 By GRID

LEYAATA HOSPITAL

There was much going on prior to the hospital commissioning: paving, landscaping and cleaning; installing windows, doors, tiles, lights, and signs; submitting paperwork for medical and government authorities; establishing policies and planning for consumables, pharmaceuticals, equipment, and staff.

Following the commissioning on August 21, 2022, over 300 people made their way to Carpenter to be interviewed for the 100-start up positions available. By December, equipment was in place, staff had moved in and received orientation, pharmaceuticals arrived, shelves were stocked, and a few patients trickled in, even though it had not yet been announced that the Leyaata Hospital was ready to receive them.

Many had dreamed of this hospital for over 50 years and many more, since the day eight years ago when it was decided to begin the process. A huge thanks to you, our faithful partners, for making this dream a reality! Your prayers, financial support, and encouragement gave us the courage to push through amid challenges and setbacks.

“We needed to know that the hospital was truly going to make a difference. I am sure you will all agree that this is going to have an amazing impact for many people and many communities around this part of Ghana.”

CINDY LAMBIER
The Jim Pattison Foundation Director

” The partnership between health professionals from around the world and the NEA & Leyaata Hospital community is unique. Built upon decades of friendship and common vision, we continue to strive toward the essential goal of health for all.”

DR. JENNIFER WILSON, Lead Physician, Ghana Health Partners
DR. ROB HICKS, Lead Surgeon, Hernia International Carpenter

BABANAYAA PROJECT

2,139 bags of peanuts were harvested by the 500 Babanayaa women farmers. They saved GHS 29,780 and generated an additional income of GHS 45,415 from the use of their motorking.

Since the inception of the project, a total of 22 females received scholarships. Aside from receiving assistance with their school fees, they were also provided mentorship with our Adolescent and Gender Officers.

In December, 250 co-op members were trained on Reproductive Health, Safe Food Preparation, Gender and Human Rights. Many of the participants showed interest in knowing more about cervical cancer. Some of them booked appointments to meet the midwife after the training.

Our partnership with the Government of Canada, which first provided assistance in 1987 to support women’s cooperative farming, makes it possible to reach more communities and help girls and women improve their well-being through projects like this.

” The training has provided a lot of knowledge for the participants concerning their sexual and reproductive health and empowered them with their decision making. It has also given them insight into the care of their adolescents.”

MILLECENT DAPAAH
Midwife Specialist & Facilitator

“I’m happy that my nurses and midwife here in Wakawaka will not have to carry containers to look around for water to attend to patients. Also, the VIP and water system will further promote hygiene and prevent disease outbreaks.

HAIJA FUSEINA SULEMANA
Bole-Bamboi District Director

MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

PARTNERS FOR GOOD

YESTERDAY, TODAY, & TOMORROW

For we are partners working together for God.” (1 Corinthians 3:9)

Reflecting on 2022, I and the members and partners of GRID & NEA, truly stand in awe and thanksgiving to God for all He has accomplished in and through us. The commissioning of the Leyaata Hospital exemplifies our theme “partners for good – yesterday, today, and tomorrow.” It was amazing to see so many of our special partners in Carpenter all at the same time.

Pastor Rob Whitaker from CCC, Bloomington IN, the first US church to support NEA
Pastor Dale Dawson and his wife from Uxbridge Baptist Church, which have stood faithfully behind the work for decades
the courageous GRID board, who voted ‘yea’ to move forward with this enormous task, special mention to Jacques Lapointe, GRID Chairman, who took on the additional role of chairing the hospital fundraising
the NEA board who never gave up on this 50 year dream
the NEA staff who worked to ensure the events of the day went smoothly
the chiefs and elders of the land, who gave support in many ways
local communities who came in their numbers to clean and help prepare ‘their’ hospital site and buildings
The Jim Pattison Foundation
The Makbraneth Foundation, which has partnered with GRID & NEA for over 20 years
special guests who gave so generously to make this hospital a reality
Tim Beacon of Medical Aid International, who gathered, procured, and shipped all the state-of-the-art hospital equipment
The Ghana Government officials, especially the Ministry of Health, for their support
The Leyaata Hospital board, for their guidance
The ECAC board and pastors, for their prayers
The Ghana Health Partners, represented by Dr. Wilson and Dr. Hicks, who announced they are ready for the next stage of partnership through the transfer of their skills and the establishment of a training centre

The hospital took centre stage of course; however through the support of other partners of GRID & NEA, we have new churches in several communities, much-needed water and sanitation facilities in Wakawaka, a dormitory which will help in facilitating training programs, and new housing for one of the local pastors. In addition, several partners have provided scholarships for 60 students this year. Special thanks to Westney Heights Baptist Church for the sponsorship of pastors-in-training and the Joan Maguire Nursing Scholarship Fund.

2022 was an exciting year but I must add that 2023 is already yielding wonderful results.

Lives are being saved and changed – for good.

Our partnership with God and with each other has, is, and I trust will in future, feed the hungry, give clean water to the thirsty, heal the sick, release many from poverty, and faithfully bring the Good News of God’s love to many in our ever-expanding field of work.

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https://grid-nea.org/2023/03/2022impactreport/

Following The Stars

2023/03/02 By Dr. Jennifer Wilson

Yesterday began under the hospital gazebo, which is named in memory of Noah Ampen, who greeted each of our fourteen Ghana Health Teams. His absence is palpable and his epitaph at the NEA entrance inspires us to follow his example of a wholehearted life of service to God and humanity.

At hospital devotions, I wanted to encourage the Leyaata Hospital staff and our Ghana Health Partners with a quotation from St. Francis of Assisi that says, “Start by doing what is necessary. Then do what is possible. And suddenly, you are doing the impossible.” Brenda Mensah shared this quotation with me in the early years of the Ghana Health Team when I could so easily become overwhelmed by what to do next in the face of the massive needs and lack of access to any health care. Together with our Ghanaian partners, we began doing what was necessary in the remote villages of the region — providing primary care to one person at a time. Then we moved to the possible — things like surgery, glaucoma care, and dental care. Suddenly, we are serving in the 130,809.06 square foot Leyaata Hospital run by a Ghanaian staff. As Luke 18:27 says, all things are possible with God. In these overwhelming early weeks and months of getting a new hospital open and running, I pray these words will encourage us all and inspire the next steps that we should take.

Everything about the Leyaata Hospital is colourful. Each department is marked by a different colour of staff scrub. Leyaata chose such vibrant colours for these hospital uniforms — royal blue, sea blue, emerald green, and bright purple, for example; however, these colours really do pale in comparison to the colourful personalities of our friends. Teasing and laughter is very much a part of the culture here. Our nurses Sandra and Anne were delighted to be presented with their own vibrant blue scrubs, which they wore with great smiles and great pride as they spent the day helping strengthen the nursing program here.

*Four departments and four colours of uniform: physician, maternity, emergency, and in-patients.*

Nursing team with Dr. Ben. Matrons wear white.

Our paediatrician, Anne Smith, and I continue to work with the young and enthusiastic Leyaata Hospital midwives doing emergency training for babies who struggle to breathe at birth or who develop danger signs in the first hours of life. Neonatal mortality is extremely high in Ghana, but it will be low at the Leyaata Hospital because of the skill of these midwives. They are so passionate about saving babies that when they successfully resuscitate “Natalie” (our neonatal mannequin), their eyes fill with tears and they cover her with kisses while exclaiming, “Don’t ever do that to me again, baby!” They are absolute stars.

And yes, that is a fake umbilical cord slung over my shoulder.

A Ghana Health Team interview with Martha was playing on the lobby TV today!

Speaking of stars, as David arrived to dinner last evening, he asked if we noticed Jupiter and Venus in the sky. We all looked at each other embarrassed…we wouldn’t know Jupiter or Venus if they were standing in the bright orange carrot/papaya/ginger soup that we were enjoying so much! David marched us outside the cafeteria door to show us. His people know the stars well, using them to guide their movements when hunting deep in the bush. The Mo tribe has their own names for each star in their local language. Jupiter, the largest of the two, is called “chief.” The name for Venus (which is smaller but right on the shoulder of Jupiter) translates to “die and I’ll be chief.” How good is that!

Esther arriving with fabric to make dresses.

So it has been a colourful day in Ghana and we continue to be inspired as we follow the stars of Leyaata Hospital and serve the patients in this brand new hospital system. There is a role for everyone to play and I am grateful to each one who, like Noah, are pouring their sweat and tears into serving God and humanity.

Until next time,

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

Let’s Dance

2023/03/01 By Dr. Jennifer Wilson

Dear friends and family,

My duties prevented me from sending you a blog last evening. Instead, I will send some pictures and videos reflecting Day 2 at the Leyaata Hospital — a day of hard work, deepening partnerships, intense training, service to humanity, and a whole pile of fun!

Enjoy…

Leyaata Hospital’s radiographer with a portable x-ray machine.

Presentation of biomed equipment to Dr. Ben.

Ernestina’s master class in proper hand washing.

Theatre team building session run by Dr. Ben.

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

Finally, in Carpenter!

2023/02/26 By Dr. Jennifer Wilson

Just a quick update to say that we are thankful to be safe and sound in Carpenter. After an emotional welcome from the Leyaata Hospital and NEA staff, we didn’t waste any time before heading straight over to the mighty Leyaata Hospital. As we walked through the compound, I was struck by how different it looks here in February. It is the end of the dry season, so there is no green grass— just dry, parched land. Despite the harsh weather, the cashew tree is ready for harvest! We unloaded all our equipment and supplies and presented them to the Leyaata Hospital team, after which we enjoyed our traditional spaghetti dinner!

It’s only 7:30 pm, but our residence is silent. Our long journey and the extreme temperatures have sent everyone to bed early! It will be a full day at the Leyaata Hospital tomorrow, and we cannot wait!

Here are a few photos from today……