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November 2013>> SVG’s partner charity Anidaso Health traveled to Ghana for a two week medical and surgery mission. During this time, a surgical and a medical team worked alongside SVG and Kwahu Government Hospital's staff; they performed surgeries and conducted medical outreaches in several communities in the Kwahu Districts, and donated medical equipment and educational materials to health facilties and local communities.

Health care is very variable through the country. Urban centres are well served, and contain most hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies in the country. However, rural areas often have no modern health care. Patients in these areas either rely on traditional African medicine, or travel great distances for health care. In 2010, there was about 15 physicians and 93 nurses per 100,000 persons.

The goal of the surgical team was to perform surgeries that due to lack of specialists and/or equipment, costs related to the operations, issues of access to facilities and others, do not take place in the region. Prior to their visit, SVG conducted interviews and made announcements on several local radio stations. This was to allow for awareness and wide reach within the local population, and thus the success of the mission.

The team, consisting of two surgeons, anesthesiologists, and nurses, performed a total of 59 surgeries; they were supported locally by staff at the Kwahu Government Hospital, and established their base at the hospital theatre premises. Some of their work was posible thanks to surgical equipment and instruments shipped to Ghana by partner charity Children of Abraham and Anidaso for this purpose –these were later donated to the hospital.

Altogether, 59 surgeries consisting of hernia repairs, thyroidectomies, lipoma excisions and skin grafts were performed. 

 Surgeon and patient -skin grafts

According to the World Health Organization, the most common diseases in Ghana include cholera, pulmonary tuberculosis, anthrax, chicken pox, infectious hepatitis, malaria, tetanus, pertussis, trachoma, measles and schistosomiasis. In most cases, these diseases are preventable and waterborne, but only 50% of all citizens of Ghana have access to safe water. Another problem is sanitation as only 30.3 percent of people of Ghana have regular sanitation services. In addition, people are at very high risk of diseases acquired through insect bites.

The Outreach team visited 8 communities –Oboyan, Bukuruwa, Mangoase, Kwaku Safo, Mangoase, Hweehwee and others. They tested for diabetes and hypertension, and wounds and skin infections were treated;  walkers, crutches and wheelchairs were given out when needed by the physiotherapist; finally, the team donated clothes, shoes and other material to the communities that were visited.

Altogether, two very successful weeks; SVG wishes to thank the teams behing Anidaso Health, Children of Abraham and the Kwahu Government Hospital, volunteers from partner organisation Original Volunteers, and Aquafilter UK, who in various ways worked to make their visit successful.

This experience will hopefully be used by all the teams involved to better understand needs and realities on the ground, and plan for future cooperation.