Dear Friends,
It is almost three weeks since most of the IHDN Ghana mission team members returned to the U.S. Katie Thompson, the final year medical student who stayed in Ghana to complete her electives, also arrived safely in the U.S. on August 3, 2010. Some of us had to go on call the next day and resume work right away. It has therefore taken much longer for me to adjust and write this report.
The 17th mission trip to Ghana was undertaken from June 12 to August 3, 2010, with a 25-member medical and nonmedical volunteer team. It was one of the most hectic, but successful, trips we have had thus far. There were four different departure dates from Chicago to Accra , and three different return dates from Accra for different members of the team. Most of us went to join Dr. Brandon Francis, a Senior Resident from Rush University , Chicago , who arrived in Ghana on June 13 for his electives at the IHDN Mission Hospital . We thank all the volunteer drivers who supported our trips to and from the airport. We also thank all our Ghanaian friends who supported our trip to Kotoka Airport at Accra and helped us out. Now what did we do in Ghana ?
Lectures at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra
This lecture series was held on Monday, July 5, 2010 and was designed to support the training of doctors and medical students at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. Topics covered were as follows:
1. The Initial Assessment of a Trauma Patient........................................Dr. John Sutyak
2. Management of Thoracic and Abdominal Trauma.................................Dr. John Sutyak
3. Management of Musculoskeletal and Spinal Trauma.............................Dr. John Sutyak
4. Evaluation of the Male Chief Executive............................................Dr. Robert Bussing
5. Evaluation and management of Erectile Dysfunction..........................Dr. Robert Bussing
6. Clinical presentation and management of Prostate Cancer.................Dr. Edem Agamah
7. Overview and the practice of Hysteroscopy.............................................Dr. John Saint
8. Peripheral Nerve Block.......................................................................Dr. Peter Martin
9. Overview of Spinal Anesthesia...........................................................Dr. Peter Martin
10. Diagnosis and Management of Malignant Hyperthermia.........................Dr. Peter Matin
11. The Principles and Clinical Utility of Flow Cytometry...........................Dr. Amma Benneh
Dr. Benneh was sponsored by the American Society of Hematology to come to Springfield , Illinois and learn Flow Cytometry. This is a highly specialized technique used in diagnosing blood cancers and other diseases, and is not available in Ghana . With her training, she is now in a position to do these tests as soon as funds are available to support this lab.
Over 40 medical students and doctors attended the lectures, which were well received.
Peri-Operative Nursing Workshop, Accra
We hosted a workshop for the Peri-Operative Nursing Group of Ghana in Accra , the same day, Monday, July 5. The following topics were presented by Ms. Susan Lobb, Ms. Stephanie Lee, and Ms. Christi Minick:
1. The Role of the Preoperative Nurse
2. AORN Standards and Recommended Practices
3. Demonstration of Closed Gloving and Gowning.
This Ghanaian nursing group is very organized and they planned this workshop to coincide with our trip to Ghana . There were over 100 nurses from all over the country participating in this workshop. Our nurses had a great time sharing their knowledge and expertise with their Ghanaian counterparts.
Medical and Surgical Clinics
We treated over 500 patients at the IHDN Mission Hospital . Dr. Brandon Francis worked with Dr. Wheatly Ajavon, the medical officer in charge ,to see these patients. Members of the surgical team included Dr. John Saint, Dr. John Sutyak, Dr. Peter Martin, and their helpers, Ms. Katie Thompson and Ms. Akpene Agamah. Mr. Matt Soltys, Ms. Vivienne Dawkins, Dr. Robert Bussing, Ms. Stephanie Lee, and Paige Barber assisted in interviewing the patients. Other team members helped with various duties in the hospital. Ms. Aseye Agamah, Ms. Alikem Agamah, Mr. Clemence Ahiable, and Mr. Emmanuel Ahiable helped in obtaining vitals signs of the patients.
Dr. Robert Bussing, Mr. Sean Fitzgerrel, Ms. Aseye Agamah, and Ms. Alikem Agamah assisted with sterilization, organization, and cleaning of surgical instruments. Christi Minick was our main OR Tech, and Susan Lobb was our go-to OR Nurse. We performed 18 surgeries. Most of the surgeries were hernias, hydroceles, and lipoma.
There were a few emergencies that produced some excitement. A bag of cement fell on the neck of a construction worker. We did not have a neck collar and had to use cardboard to make a “neck collar”, carefully transporting him toAflao (20 miles away) for an X-ray before clearing him to move. Mr. Dan Higginson and Mrs. Hilda Ahiable were very active in taking care of the emergencies in collaboration with the Ghanaian nursing team.
Mr. Gary Thompson installed and conducted training and maintenance on the new ELISA machine. So the labs in Ghana can now do screening for prostate cancer with PSA, and also thyroid gland abnormalities. Ms. Paige Barber helped at the lab as well as in the pharmacy.
Mrs. June Agamah and Mrs. Karen Barber helped with logistics, packing, taking inventory, and organizing supplies for the hospital and the mission team.
Youth Forum|
Ms. Aseye, Alikem, Clemence, and Emmanuel hosted a youth forum for the Junior High students at Agbozume. Over 200 students participated in this lively forum.
Workshop for Firemen
Mr. Dan Higginson, a fireman from Springfield , hosted a workshop for all the firemen from the Denu, Keta, and Anloga. Dan was touched by the level of enthusiasm and readiness to learn demonstrated by the Ghanaians. Their main handicap is lack of equipment.
Boy and Girl Scouts
Mr. Sean Fitzgerrel and Ms. Katie Thompson hosted a meeting for the Boy Scouts in the Agbozume area. They shared with them some new information and encouraged the group to remain steadfast despite not having adequate resources.
Hospital Administration
Mr. Fitzgerrel shared with Mr. Mark Dedzoe and the hospital leadership some of the instruments used in evaluating hospital workers in the U.S.
Sharing of the Gospel
I preached at the Evangelical Presbyterian Church Agbozume on Sunday, July 4. Mrs. Hilda Ahiable and some Ghanaian friends shared the gospel at the hospital and led over 30 people to the Lord. They also prayed and encouraged the patients who were waiting to be seen by the medical staff.
Rest and Relaxation
Our days were packed, but we managed to squeeze a trip to the beach on Sunday July 11. I do not know why, but almost all the mission volunteers we take to Ghana get a big kick out of going to the beach each year. The present team was no different. They enjoyed the water and the cool breeze from the Atlantic Ocean . On our way out of Ghana , we did some shopping for artifacts and also had dinner at the Labadi Beach hotel.
Closing remarks
When it was time to leave Agbozume, some of the team members wished they could stay longer and continue the work. But they have to return to the U.S. and resume work. Our trips to Ghana are very hectic but beneficial. They are costly, but worth the time and effort. Apart from high airfares, the authorities in Ghana charge each physician $400 for a temporary license to come and help Ghanaians. We will continue to support the work in Ghana to the extent that it is humanly possible and leave the rest to Him. We cannot solve all the problems, but we can challenge all the people to come along with us as we help make a difference for His glory. Thanks for being a supportive partner on this journey.
Regards and God bless.
Dr. Edem Agamah
IHDN USA
Report submitted by Dr. Edem Agamah
on behalf of IHDN Ghana Mission Team
For more details about other mission activity reports, please read the IHDN
bi-annual newsletter.
