Installation of equipment at Greater Accra Regional Hospital: 100 Neurosurgical procedures performed
The Greater Accra Regional Hospital (GARH), formerly Ridge Hospital, has so far performed a total of 100 neurosurgical procedures on patients who would have had to travel abroad to seek care.
This follows the installation of neurosurgical equipment at the facility which now enables the performance of surgical operations of conjoined twins and other complex neurosurgical conditions.
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The equipment was procured by the government, making Ghana the first country in West Africa and second in Africa after South Africa to have the state-of-the-art facility.
Rationale
The Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, said the equipment was purchased because of the high cost involved in conducting surgery on conjoined twins outside the country and the fact that Ghana had medical experts who could perform such operations.
“Hitherto, referrals from the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, the 37 Military Hospital, the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and other such facilities in the country were sent to South Africa and elsewhere.”
“After the purchase and installation of the equipment, however, such cases are now referred to the GARH where they are able to operate this equipment successfully,” he added.
The minister further said that the purchase of the equipment had led to some professional neurosurgeons from countries where they did not have the equipment to come to Ghana to join their counterparts to perform surgeries.
He called for further collaboration between the GARH and the teaching hospitals in the country where cases were being referred from.
Appreciation
The Technical Lead of surgeons at the GARH, Dr Samuel Kaba, and the Technical Director, Dr Emmanuel Sorofenyo, both expressed joy and gratitude to the government for the provision of the medical equipment.
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“If the separation of conjoined twins is successful, Ghana will become a centre for medical knowledge,” Dr Kaba said.