The Programme Background
In 2005, Prof Andrew Kingsnorth and Mr Chris Oppong led the first team of surgeons, nurses, and administrators on the five-hour journey from Accra to Takoradi hospital to perform a week of hernia repairs and train local surgeons.
Soon after, with funding from the British High Commission work began on the refurbishment of an unused wing of Takoradi Hospital to create the Hernia Treatment Center, equipped at a much higher standard than is usual in most Ghanaian facilities, and now employing one local surgeon, two nurses, one laboratory technician, and one pharmacy staff member full time.
In 2005 and 2006, travelling fellowships were awarded to surgical residents by the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland (ASGBI). Since then, Operation Hernia has established links in ten other countries, successfully recruited over 300 Volunteers, and up to 20 teams per year at the various sites. Most teams subsequently write about their experience on the foundation’s website.
