Assessment of capacity for surgery,obstetrics and anaesthesia in 17 Ghanaian hospitals using a WHO assessment tool |
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| Authors: | Shelly Choo Henry Perry Afua A. J. Hesse Francis Abantanga Elias Sory Hayley Osen Charles Fleischer‐Djoleto Rachel Moresky Colin W. McCord Meena Cherian Fizan Abdullah |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD, USA;2. Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA;3. Department of Surgery, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana;4. Department of Surgery, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana;5. Director‐General, Ghana Health Services, Accra, Ghana;6. World Health Organization Country Office, Accra, Ghana;7. Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA;8. Department of Surgery, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA;9. Emergency and Essential Surgical Care Program, Department of Essential Health Technologies, Health Systems and Services, World Health Organization Headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland |
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| Abstract: | Objectives To survey infrastructure characteristics, personnel, equipment and procedures of surgical, obstetric and anaesthesia care in 17 hospitals in Ghana. Methods The assessment was completed by WHO country offices using the World Health Organization Tool for Situational Analysis to Assess Emergency and Essential Surgical Care, which surveyed infrastructure, human resources, types of surgical interventions and equipment in each facility. Results Overall, hospitals were well equipped with general patient care and surgical supplies. The majority of hospitals had a basic laboratory (100%), running water (94%) and electricity (82%). More than 75% had the basic supplies needed for general patient care and basic intra‐operative care, including sterilization. Almost all hospitals were able to perform major surgical procedures such as caesarean sections (88%), herniorrhaphy (100%) and appendectomy (94%), but formal training of providers was limited: a few hospitals had a fully qualified surgeon (29%) or obstetrician (36%) available. Conclusions The greatest barrier to improving surgical care at district hospitals in Ghana is the shortage of adequately trained medical personnel for emergency and essential surgical procedures. Important future steps include strengthening their number and qualifications. |
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| Keywords: | Ghana surgery anaesthesia obstetrics Africa Ghana chirurgie anesthé sie obsté trique Afrique Ghana cirugí a anestesia obstetricia Á frica |
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