Experience of collaboration between a Dutch surgical team in a Ghanaian Orthopaedic Teaching Hospital.

Timmers TK, Kortekaas E, Beyer BPC, Huizinga E, v. Hezik van SM, Twagirayezu E, Bemelman M
1. University Medical Center Utrecht, Department of Surgery/Trauma-surgery.
P.O.-box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands
2. University Medical Center Utrecht, Department of Anaesthesiology
3. University Medical Center Utrecht, Department of Vital Functions and Theatre Managment
4. St. Joseph’s Hospital, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Effiduase-Koforidua, Ghana

Abstract
Background:Surgery is an indivisible, indispensable part of healthcare. In Africa, surgery may be thought of as the neglected  stepchild of global public health. We describe our experience over a 3-year period of intensive collaboration between specialized  teams from a Dutch hospital and local teams of an orthopaedic hospital in Effiduase-Koforidua, Ghana.

Intervention: During 2010-2012, medical teams from our hospital were deployed to St. Joseph’s Hospital. These teams were  completely self-supporting. They were encouraged to work together with the local-staff. Apart from clinical work, effort was  also spent on education/ teaching operation techniques/ regional anaesthesia techniques/ scrubbing techniques/ and principles  around sterility.

Results: Knowledge and quality of care has improved. Nevertheless, the overall level of quality of care still lags behind compared to what we see in the Western world. This is mainly due to financial constraints; restricting the capacity to purchase good  equipment, maintaining it, and providing regular education.

Conclusion:The relief provided by institutions like Care-to-Move is very valuable and essential to improve the level of healthcare. The hospital has evolved to such a high level that general European teams have become redundant. Focused and dedicated  teams should be the next step of support within the nearby future.

Keywords: Orthopaedic, improvement, Ghana, collaboration, Dutch