Plan to travel to Winneba Ghana for general surgical mission. I have an established relationship with the Coast For Christ Hospital in Winneba, Sankor region. I communicate with permanent staff there throughout the year to set up correct patient for our mission and to help them triage patients to other clinics in country as needed. We will be there for 7 days and usually complete 40-45 surgical procedures during that time. Procedures include thyroidectomy, hysterectomy, hernia repair and other major and minor procedures as needed and appropriate. After we leave care is provided by the permanent hospital staff in who remain in communication with me throughout the year.
Winneba has a population of about 55,000 people and there is one surgeon in the Government run hospital there. In general most of out patients are fishermen or trades people (masons, builders, farmers). Most of our patients are from the area however we have treated patients from as far as 8 hours away in years past. In general the people of this region are very pleasant and some of the most grateful patients I have encountered.
The impact on patients lives cannot be overstated. In this region of Africa there are many stigmatizations for conditions treated. Goiters are very stigmatized, and patients can be ridiculed for the look of them. I even had one patient tell me her children were suffering in school because of her goiter. Many of the women with fibroids require blood transfusions due to menstrual blood loss and most of the men with hernias are impacted in their work because of them. Each year I come home with a renewed sense of peace and a re-prioritization of my life and my own problems.
On a recent trip to Winneba Ghana we were able to possibly impact the lives of 38 Ghanaians. We completed 20 thyroidectomy, the largest pictured here. While Surgery in Africa is always a humbling experience, seeing the smiles on the faces of patients, leaving the hospital is the best reward possible. The resilience and faith of the Ghanaian people never ceases to amaze me. I look forward to continuing the relationship with the hospital there, and continuing to impact the lives in the central region of Ghana.
