Operation Hernia to Ghana.
Inguinal hernia repair and Caesarian section are the two most commonly occurring operations in Africa. Trained surgeons are few, distances between hospitals are large and strangulated hernia is the most common cause of intestinal obstruction. Numerous deaths and cases of permanent disability occur because patients with inguinal hernias requiring elective or urgent surgery are not properly cared for, or they do not actually reach hospital. Operation Hernia was a humanitarian mission between the European Hernia Society and the Plymouth-Takoradi (Ghana) Link conceived specifically to treat and teach groin hernia surgery in the Western region of Ghana.
Kingsnorth
A N
AN
Peninsula Medical School, Level 7, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, PL6 8DH, UK. andrew.kingsnorth@phnt.swest.nhs.uk
Oppong
C
C
Akoh
J
J
Stephenson
B
B
Simmermacher
R
R
D000533:Altruism; D005060:Europe; D005869:Ghana; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008493:Medical Missions / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data