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2005 Medical Mission Report - Ghana, West Africa Approximately 1500 patients were evaluated and treated by the IHCV medical team during the nine day mission. This included 66 major surgical procedures. The 2005 IHCV medical mission accomplished three major goals:
Along with accomplishing the above goals, IHCV continued to strive to incorporate the Ghanaian medical faculty and staff into the mission to facilitate the sharing of ideas and the educational process which is central to IHCV’s long term mission. For the second year in a row, the medical team conducted a comprehensive lecture series at Cape Coast Regional Hospital and Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra. Provide saving medical and surgical care to women and their
families The team provided outpatient clinics in the above mentioned specialties. Dr. Charletta Ayers, director of outpatient services for the mission, reported success in the cooperation of the Central Regional Hospital administration, staff and the IHCV members. The team saw 1439 patients from July 18 –July 28 at Cape Coast Hospital and Saltpond Clinic. This is the first year that IHCV provided an evening clinic for hospital employees where 17 patients were evaluated and treated. IHCV, in partnership with World Vision, provided prenatal care to 55 pregnant women. The cardiologist and cardiology fellow saw 175 patients for the evaluation of heart disease, a very prominent medical disorder for African adults who suffer from undiagnosed hypertension and diabetes. Pediatrics Family Medicine Cardiology They performed 151 cardiology consultations and 167 Cardiac Echo’s for the evaluation of abnormalities of the heart. During the 2005 mission, Dr. Parks gave grand rounds on Hypertensive Complications which was well received by the medical officers and staff at Cape Coast Regional Hospital. Obstetrics and OB/GYN Ultrasounds During the mission Dr. Westover was a resource for the Regional Hospital Obstetrical service. He consulted on numerous obstetrical issues in labor and delivery and in the prenatal clinic. Dr. Westover also presented an exceptional grand rounds’ presentation on the Complications and Management of Multiple Gestations at the Central Regional Hospital and Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. The obstetrical / gynecological team, consisting of four attendings who worked as consultants for labor and delivery and saw 55 women for prenatal care at Saltpond under the auspices of World Vision. While at Saltpond Prenatal Clinic the medical mission team evaluated prenatal patients, conducted prenatal patient education, distributed prenatal vitamins and were consultants for the Cape Coast midwives for complicated prenatal patients. Surgical Services Anesthesia The Anesthesia team included Peggy Burgoyne and Dennis Veckman, both experienced and well trained CNRA‘s, and student nurse anesthetist Angela Bartelt. One of the reasons for the increase in the number of surgical procedures this mission is due in part to the new anesthesia machines. This new equipment allowed IHCV to provide state of the art patient care and improved safety standards for surgical procedures. Gynecology Gynecology Oncology He also removed multiple large benign masses and performed intraoperative consultations. He removed a 45 lb mass from the pelvis of a 46 year old woman who reported a growing mass in her belly for over 5 years. The picture below is the mass that was fortunately benign. Urogynecology Drs. Caraballo and Holzberg performed state of the art surgeries repairing urinary and vaginal fistulas. Dr. Caraballo reported on what for him was the most rewarding aspect of the medical mission. A patient he operated on last year to repair a large vesico-vaginal fistula returned for follow-up and reported that she was doing well. The repair of her fistula had changed her life. Before the procedure, her community had shunned her because she was considered unclean. She is now a productive member of her community. Dr. Caraballo, like many team members saw the effect the IHCV mission can have on patient’s lives. The urogynecology team was able to perform 6 major procedures this trip including 2 repairs of fistulas, bladder repair, repair of a rectocele, repair of a bladder injury due to childbirth, and vaginal vault prolapse. The team also consulted on numerous patients in the ambulatory clinic as well as intraoperatively. Urology Dr. Degraft Yankah, a highly respected urologist from Alabama, offered his services for the 2005 medical mission. Dr. Yankah , a native of Cape Coast, was enthusiastic about providing his talents to this mission. Dr. Yankah performed 20 surgical procedures including; prostatectomies, cystoscopies, orchectomies and herniorrhaphies. Dr. Yankah treated a 16 year old boy who lived with a large testicular mass for over 1 year. The young man was unable to pay for the recommended surgery. He presented to the Regional Hospital with massive bleeding from the tumor. Dr. Yankah was called emergently for a consultation and took the young man immediately to the OR for removal of the mass. The mass was found to be malignant. He is presently being evaluated for radiation/chemotherapy at the National Cancer Center at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. The urology team evaluated adults and children with urological problems such as prostate cancer, testicular torsion, undescended testes, inguinal hernias, hypospadias and benign prostatic hyperplasia. General Surgery/Surgical Oncology Dr. Sehdev was instrumental in working with the Regional Hospital surgical house officers and surgeons. He performed combined procedures with surgical house officers as well as the general surgeons. The dialogue and cooperation between the IHCV and surgical staff at the Regional Hospital continues to improve. Dr. Sehdev is truly committed to education and sharing of his skills and knowledge in the OR and in formal didactics. He presented at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital lecture series on the Evaluation and Management of Breast Diseases. Our Partnership with World Vision World Vision at Saltpond and the IHCV medical team provided services to 50 pregnant women and 170 individuals with various medical problems. The World Vision director at Saltpond, Mrs. Evelyn Nsiah, greeted the IHCV medical team at the Regional Hospital at Cape Coast. She extended her support for the continued endeavors of IHCV in Cape Coast. Educational Achievement and Goals of IHCV Medical Mission
CME Programming Epidural anesthesia In-service was provided by Dr. Grant Acquah to the Regional Hospital anesthesia team. IHCV and Dr.Grant were able to donate 2 new Anesthesia machines with ventilators to Cape Coast Regional Hospital. The Anesthesia team at Cape Coast was in-serviced by the IHCV Anesthesia team on the use of the new equipment. These machines will be a major boost for quality patient care and safety for all surgical procedures. The Korle Bu CME program was co-sponsored by IHCV and the OB/GYN department at Korle Bu. This program was coordinated by Dr. Kareem Mumuni, IHCV former visiting OB/GYN resident. The CME program included a half day interactive lecture series. The series included Pelvic Anatomy by Dr. Ricardo Caraballo, Management of Pelvic Organ Prolapse by Dr. Adam Holzberg, Fertility Preservation in Gynecologic Malignancies by Dr. James Aikins, Management of Multiple Gestations by Dr. Thomas Westover and Evaluation and Management of Breast Neoplasm by Dr. Mohan Sehdev. Nursing Education The anesthesia team including Anesthesiologist Dr. Grant Acquah and two experienced nurse Anesthetists, Peggy Burgoyne and Dennis Veckman, continued the ongoing education of state of the art anesthesia techniques to the nurse anesthetists at the Regional Hospital of Cape Coast. This is the third year that IHCV has brought a nurse anesthetist student as a member of the IHCV team. Mrs. Burgoyne and Mr. Veckman mentored the student nurse anesthetist Angela Bartlet. Resident and Medical Student Education In support of its educational goals, IHCV established a resident exchange program between Cooper University Hospital and Korle Bu Teaching Hospital OB/GYN Departments. An OB/GYN resident, from Korle Bu traveled to the Regional Hospital at Cape Coast to work with the US residents and train with the medical and surgical staff of IHCV. This exchange has been fruitful for both IHCV medical mission staff as well as the Korle Bu resident. The IHCV team this year had two residents and one cardiology fellow from Cooper University Hospital and one resident from Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick. The residents provided assistance in multiple surgical cases, were mentored in the outpatient clinic with well trained specialists, and interacted with the medical staff from Cape Coast. All of the physicians-in-training found this experience to be enlightening as well unforgettable. For the medical student and residents who participated in the 2005 IHCV mission, their experiences have made lasting impressions regarding global education, public health issues as well as medical and surgical experiences that could not be replicated in the United States. Introduction of Scientific Education/Cultural Exchange The partnership goal is to initiate the first school robotic program in Africa and to create an alliance between a Cape Coast School and St. Joseph Prep High School. The Robotics team in Cape Coast is planning to compete in the national Robotics Competition in 2006 with assistance from St. Joseph Prep High School and the IHCV organization. The robotic program’s aim is to promote interest in science, encourage citizenship, teamwork and a sense of global responsibility. The goals of this effort match those of the IHCV medical mission. Support of the Medical Mission within Ghana
2005 International Healthcare Volunteers
Source of Funding for 2005 Medical Mission
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The 2005 International Health Care Volunteers (IHCV) medical mission
to Cape Coast, Ghana took place from July 15 to August 1, 2005. For the
first time, IHCV included a pediatrician, cardiologist, and urologist
as well as a high school teacher and students, which brought a different
dynamic to the 2005 medical mission team of 28 volunteers. 
Dr. Arnelle Midley, a California pediatrician
with over 15 years of experience, volunteered to be part of this year’s
medical mission team. Dr. Midley evaluated 103 children in the ambulatory
clinic and
consulted on the pediatric ward for children with ailments including
sickle cell crisis, meningitis, and hepatitis complicated with ascites.
In only a short period of time, Dr. Midley was able to forge lasting
professional relationships with the pediatric consultants and staff.
IHCV was excited with the addition of cardiology to the list of specialties
which were offered this mission for the first time. The IHCV cardiology
clinic was headed by Dr. Kathleen Heintz, Assistant Professor of Cardiology
at UMDNJ at Cooper University Hospital. She was assisted by her second
year fellow Dr. Kimberly Parks. 
The surgical team was headed by Dr. Ricardo Caraballo,
Assistant Professor at UMDNJ in New Brunswick, New Jersey. OR Services
for the medical mission
was directed by Lorraine Bailey, RN the OR nurse manager from Cooper
University Hospital. The surgical team increased the number of major
cases performed compared to the 2004 medical mission of 50 majors to
this year of 66 surgical procedures.
The gynecology team included Dr. Manny Essel from Ohio, Dr. Isabella
Nyan from Kentucky, Dr. Imelda Udo from Maryland and Dr. Charletta Ayers
from New Jersey. The team evaluated and treated 160 women in the ambulatory
clinic, including treatment for abnormal bleeding, uterine fibroids,
pelvic infections, pelvic masses, contraception and infertility. The
gynecological team also performed 20 major surgeries including hysterectomies,
oophrectomy and tubal ligation.
On the last mission the Honorable Nana Kwesi Atta II, Chief of Cape
Coast, requested IHCV to provide medical resources to the men in the
community in addition to the women. With the limited resources of Ghana,
many subspecialties have a limited number of physicians. One of these
areas is urology. 
World Vision continues to be an important partner of IHCV. World Vision
is instrumental in the transfer of medical supplies and equipment to
facilitate the provision of health care services to the underserved areas.
Mr. David Derr, Mr. John Littel, and Mr. Emmanuel Opong continue to work
hard to facilitate the partnership between IHCV and World Vision. This
year World Vision air lifted over 28 crates of medical supplies and equipment
from New Jersey to Accra, Ghana. 
For the first time, IHCV partnered with St. Joseph Prep High School
in Philadelphia to facilitate the first high school student exchange
program with Aggrey Memorial Secondary School at Cape Coast Ghana. Patricia
Kalodi, a high school teacher from St. Joseph Prep and Emily Gatto, a
graduated high school student from St. Joseph were active members of
the IHCV 2005 mission.