Happy second anniversary to the birthing house!

What a happy way to celebrate the second anniversary of the birthing house - with a recent visit from Ebou and photos of some of the newest additions to the village born in the house.  A total of 55 babies have been born in the house since it opened two years ago!

Dembo Jarjou and family

Fifty-five mothers have delivered in the privacy and comfort of the house, in a clean environment, surrounded by their support network of women friends and family and Penyem's traditional birth attendant.  It's amazing.  

The birth register (look at the number!)

None of this would have been possible without the generous support of so many people in Canada and elsewhere, and most importantly without the commitment and vision of the people of Penyem.  

A huge thanks in particular to my parents in Ottawa, who have led the grassroots fundraising for the project, and to Ebou in the Gambia.  He has continued to document progress with photos for those of us abroad and spends time on his visits home to the village doing ongoing consultation and planning to ensure the house is even more comfortable, safe and clean for the women of Penyem to bring new life into the world.

Abdoulie Nyassi and family 

I am delighted to be going back to the Gambia for two weeks in April to visit!  I can't wait to spend time in Penyem with the women and families, meet some of the birthing house babies - maybe even my namesake! - and talk through their upcoming plans with them.  One of the areas they are looking into is sustainable options for lighting for nighttime deliveries, such as solar panels and suitable batteries.  

I'll most certainly be taking lots of photos while I'm there and will share them with you, as well as more specific details on the next steps for the house and how you can support the project.  We are accepting support on an ongoing basis for the house, so do let me know if you're interested.

I remember how incredibly happy we felt two years ago today when hundreds of people from Penyem and beyond gathered for the day to celebrate the opening of the Conlon Mullally Birthing House.  To look back today and realize that in two short years, the house has provided a clean, safe, positive space for fifty-five births in the village is also an incredibly joyful feeling.  

Thanks once again to everyone who has been involved in making this happen, and who continues to make it happen.   

Update: more births and next steps

Ebou spent his leave in December and January at home in Penyem and was able to visit many of the birthing house newborns.  

As of mid-January, the total count was 45 babies born in house!  Here are some of them with their families:

Here are some recent shots of the birth register:

Can you believe we've made it to 45 moms and babies already in the house?  How exciting!  

Ebou also documented some of the work that has been done recently on the house, including termite spraying.  Termites are unfortunately a very common problem in the Gambia, but they were nipped in the bud.  The house has been sprayed and re-plastered and is good as new.  

The traditional birth attendant is also getting great use out of the new stove to sterilize her instruments.   

Ebou spent some time discussing upcoming plans with the women.  They had a great idea for lighting the house, as both the original lamps and the headlamps that replaced them have burnt out.  They suggested using the solar panels and battery backup system already set up at the village health clinic for power.  

The battery system isn't being used to full capacity as the centre is only open during the day, so cables could be run from the clinic to the birthing centre and that would provide power to the centre itself!  

He is currently doing a budget projection for this.  It would be a significant improvement to the house, and ensure more sustainable lighting for nighttime deliveries.  Here is the latest budget for the house: 

And I am thrilled to share that I will be going back to the Gambia in April for a visit!  I can't wait to see everyone in Penyem and to spend some time with the grandmothers, mothers and babies!  

We'll have two big milestones to celebrate soon: the second anniversary of the opening and when we reach fifty safe and comfortable births in the house  Celebrations will most certainly be in order!

Thanks once again to everyone near and far who has so generously supported this project and the people of Penyem.  

Ottawa elementary school fundraises for the birthing house

The generous students and staff at Our Lady of Peace Catholic School in Ottawa fundraised for the birthing house this year during Lent.  The small school of 156 kids managed to raise $466.75 for the birthing house's sustainability fund!  The kids may not have big wallets, but they certainly have big hearts, said their principal, Anne Marie Duncan, who organized the fundraiser.

The winning team won a pizza lunch for the their efforts, and the students all made cards for the women and children of Penyem.  They are so sweet!  My father and brother, Joe and Ryan, accepted the donation on behalf of the Penyem birthing house.  Here is what the students' generous contribution will be spent on in Penyem:

• more clean delivery kits (which include sterile delivery supplies, sheets, etc.)
• an outdoor cage for the gas tank that heats the water
• a door to the garden entrance to dissuade animals from eating the garden produce!
• three new lamps for those that need replacement
• a stronger torch light for the traditional birth attendant for night time deliveries

The OLP family is already planning another fundraiser for next year!  From Ebrima on behalf of the villagers:  "Thanks so much Anne Marie and the children for their big hearts!!!"  Your kindness and generosity will have a big impact on the people of Penyem, and some of your artwork will eventually make it into the house itself!  

Happy first birthday to the Penyem birthing house

“African women in general need to know that it's OK for them to be the way they are - to see the way they are as a strength, and to be liberated from fear and from silence.

"It is important to nurture any new ideas and initiatives which can make a difference for Africa.”

– Wangari Maathai

One year ago today, hundreds of people gathered together in Penyem to celebrate the grand opening of the birthing house. The opening ceremony celebration was the culmination of two years of fundraising, planning and building to bring the birthing house dream to life; it was a truly joyous occasion!

After a full day of dancing, speeches, blessings and a feast, the ribbon was cut and people flooded the house to have a look at where the women of Penyem would be able to give birth from then onwards: a safe, clean, private space for them to labour and deliver their babies.

Today, one year later, twenty-three babies have been born to the women of Penyem, with the majority of these births taking place in the birthing house (those women who had prenatal complications, were expecting their first child or had already delivered five or more children were referred to a health centre or hospital for delivery).

The women who delivered in the birthing house were able to do so in a clean, private and comfortable space; they no longer have to deliver their children outside, behind their family compounds. And they've been able to do so assisted by the traditional birth attendant who now has a steady supply of the clean delivery materials and equipment she requires, surrounded by their mothers, sisters, aunts and friends. This house was their dream and they proudly manage it on behalf of the whole village.

In celebration of the one year anniversary of the grand opening, here are photos of all of Penyem's newest additions (all girls!) and their families, courtesy of Ebrima, who continues to be an incredible link between those of us in Canada and the villagers in Penyem. Thank you, Ebou, you are a star!

Naffie Jarjou and family

Ramatoulie Kujabi and family

Nyima Touray and parents

Mariama Manga and parents

Jankey Bojang and family

Binta Jarjou and parents

The birth register (also created through this initiative, along with death registers, for the 13 villages in the community health nurse's catchment area) shows all of the births to date, including where the babies were born: PBH is the birthing house; BHC is Brikama Health Centre, the closest one to Penyem; and RVTH is the Royal Victoria Teaching capital, Gambia's tertiary care hospital in the capital city of Banjul. Here it is:

Birth register

If you look carefully at the register, you will notice a familiar name in entry #22: Ebrima Nyassi and his wife Amie Gibba are proud parents to a new baby girl! Their new baby joins older brother Musa, and will be named at her ceremony next week. I’ll be sure to share photos of the family when they’re ready!

And here is an up to date photo of my namesake, Shauna Badgie, who is quite an active toddler apparently. She's adorable!

Shauna Badjie

There is a maintenance fund that we are currently fundraising for in the house. Specific items that are required this coming year include:

• a smaller gas canister that is easier for the women to use themselves, and less costly for them to re-fill;
• stronger lights for the traditional birth attendant to use during nighttime deliveries;
• materials to build a higher wall for the garden area (because the village animals keep going after the garden produce!);
• thicker curtains for the house to ensure privacy on really sunny days;
• and a steady supply of clean delivery kits and cleaning supplies.

One more small thing that the women have been requesting is hard copies of these photos of their babies and families! They can be printed locally in the Gambia. Please be in touch with us if you wish to contribute.

Enjoy the photos and what they represent... a dream the women of Penyem had that has been fulfilled and one year on is delivering (ha ha), through contributions big and small by people in the Gambia, in Canada and beyond! Happy 1st birthday to the Penyem Birthing House!

March baby boom

Three baby girls have been born in the birthing house in the last week and a half! One of these girls was born to Sera, the village health worker, who was instrumental in coordinating with the community health nurse and the Ministry of Health while the house was being planned and built.

The grandmothers were right; 2012 is shaping up to be the year of the girl child in Penyem. :-)

Sera has also been the faithful keeper of Penyem's birth and death registers and will be adding her own little one to register just in time for the first anniversary of the house's opening!

Check back here on Monday, March 19th for photos of the new arrivals, my namesake who is a busy toddler now, and the birth register to date. Twenty two and counting...!!

2012 welcomes four little ones so far!

Ebrima and I just spoke on the phone. Despite the fuzzy transatlantic connection, he managed to convey that a baby girl was just born in the birthing house! This brings the total up to four babies so far in 2012!! Also, my namesake is growing quite quickly and apparently a very healthy and active little girl :-). Ebrima will be sending me the photos next week when he is back at work, so check back here for updates soon!

First set of twins born in the house!

Penyem has joyously welcomed several babies in recent months, all of whom have been healthily born in the house. This recent group of babies includes the first set of twins, both girls!! Ebou has kindly sent photos of the babies and their families. There was another birth this past weekend and more photos are expected soon.

He and I spoke yesterday, and the villagers of Penyem are really pleased with how well the house is being used and managed. Apparently the goats like the garden a bit too much, and the pear tree planted during the opening ceremony needed to be replaced. Overall, great news as we head into the Christmas season. Lots to be thankful for!

Here are some of Penyem's new additions: Touray Adama Touray and Awa Touray, born to Adama and Mohammad Touray, and Kadidija Nyassi, born to Agie Jammeh and Landing Nyassi! There are also photos of Ebou planting a replacement tree...