Operation Hernia is a surgical programme organised by Andrew Kingsnorth and Chris Oppong intended to treat and teach groin hernia surgery in Africa. It was initiated in 2005 in Takoradi, Western Ghana with the support of the Plymouth-Takoradi Link. Surgeon Volunteers are drawn mostly from members of the European Hernia Society. The organisation is now an independent charity which has expanded its mission into Carpenter, Northern Ghana.



Inguinal hernia is a public health problem in Africa. Inguinal hernia develops at all ages (mainly in men)with the same frequency in all parts of the world. However, in Africa inguinal hernias are not treated adequately due to lack of hospitals and surgeons. In the Bole District of Northern Ghana, there are ten times more patients with hernia compared to an equivalent population in Europe. The healthcare workforce in Ghana and other African countries is depleted due to migration of its workers to better paid and better equipped facilities in developed countries. As a result numerous deaths and cases of permanent disability occur because inguinal hernias requiring elective or urgent surgery are not treated.

In rural Africa, it has been estimated that less than 1 in 5 inguinal hernias requiring surgery actually receive an operation. Few patients with neglected hernias that strangulate may not even reach a hospital, and die needlessly. In rural areas previously fit young people die because simple surgical services are unaffordable.

In rural areas of Africa basic surgical services are not available and there is no possibility that Governments will be able to provide such facilities in the near future. Partnerships are required between charities such as Operation Hernia and NGOs in Africa in order to provide surgical care delivered by Teams of Volunteers. Operation Hernia has supported surgical services in Takoradi and Carpenter with over 15 humanitarian missions and treated over 1000 patients that otherwise would not have received a potentially life-saving operation.

The Regional hospital in Takoradi covers a population of 1.5 million and employs only three surgeons and one anaesthetist. In the District hospitals only basic surgical care can be administered.



In Carpenter, medical care is administered by Medical Assistants and surgical support is provided by the District Hospital at Wenchi, a distance of 70 kilometres.