I will be traveling to Ghana in July 2026 as part of a medical mission team to provide anesthesia care and perioperative support to patients with limited access to safe surgical services. As a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) and owner of Jirah Anesthesia Services, PLLC, my role will be to assist the surgical team by administering anesthesia, monitoring patients throughout procedures, and helping ensure safe postoperative recovery.I will help make it possible for patients to receive life-changing procedures that might otherwise be delayed or unavailable.This mission is about more than performing procedures—it is about serving with compassion, dignity, and respect while helping improve access to safe surgical care.This mission is about more than performing procedures, it is about serving with compassion, dignity, and respect while helping improve access to safe surgical care.
The primary beneficiaries of this project will be patients in underserved communities in Ghana who have limited access to safe surgical and anesthesia care. Many individuals in these areas live with untreated surgical conditions, such as hernias, due to barriers including limited healthcare infrastructure, financial constraints, and shortages of trained medical professionals.By providing anesthesia support for general surgical procedures, our team will help make these operations possible for patients who might otherwise wait years—or never receive treatment at all. Repairing hernias and addressing other general surgical conditions can significantly improve quality of life.This population is especially important because access to safe anesthesia and surgery remains limited in many parts of the world. Supporting medical missions that bring skilled providers and safe surgical care helps address these disparities.
The expected impact of this project is both immediate and long-term. Patients will receive safe surgical care for conditions that may have limited their ability to work, care for their families, or live without pain. The learning and impact will continue beyond the mission.After returning home, I will carry these experiences forward by sharing insights from the mission with colleagues and professional networks, encouraging continued global health engagement, and supporting future missions. Experiences like this strengthen cultural understanding, reinforce the importance of equitable access to care, and inspire ongoing service to underserved communities both internationally and at home.
People Impacted by My Medical Mission
Our medical mission served adults and children in Ghana who had limited access to needed surgical care, including some who had been waiting for years for treatment. Our team provided surgical and anesthesia care for adults undergoing hernia repairs, as well as pediatric patients requiring hernia and hydrocele surgeries.
As a CRNA, I had the privilege of providing safe anesthesia care and helping patients and their families feel supported during what was often a long-awaited opportunity for treatment. It was incredibly rewarding to see patients receive care that could relieve years of discomfort, improve their quality of life, and allow them to return to their families and daily activities. The gratitude and resilience of the Ghanaian patients and families we served made a lasting impact on me as well.
