Mission accomplished! Global Hernia Relief was in Ghana

From November 17th to 21st, our enthusiastic team of volunteers (4 surgeons, 3 anesthesiologists, 2 scrub nurses, 2 recovery nurses, and 1 sterilisation staff member) travelled to Ghana for another Humanitarian Hernia Mission. In close collaboration with Dr Chris Oppong (Operation Hernia) and the local surgical staff (Dr Nelson Affram), we had prepared this mission carefully. Thanks to the outstanding work and extensive recruitment of the local residents, we were able to perform 122 hernia procedures in 5 days. This year, the team also provided training in the fields of surgery, anesthesiology, and sterilisation of surgical instruments.

Surgeons Erwin van Geffen and Doeke Boersma (Jeroen Bosch Hospital), along with surgeon Giel Koning (Euregio Klinik Nordhorn, Germany), and surgeon Kevin Buckley (New York, USA), operated on both adult and pediatric patients with abdominal wall hernias of all types. Thanks to a self-imposed efficiency drive, we were able to perform more operations this year than last year, while also saving teaching time! This year, it was a special opportunity to meet the Dutch Ambassador, Your Excellency Mr Jeroen Verheul, in Accra, with whom we exchanged ideas about expanding education and further intensifying collaboration!

The need for surgery for disabling abdominal wall and scrotal hernias is very urgent in Ghana. Unfortunately, access to basic surgical care is not available to everyone.

For patients with limited or no access to medical care, the Global Hernia Relief team performs free surgeries at no cost to the patient.

In addition, practical, hands-on education and training were provided to all members of our team. Three surgical and anaesthesia residents were further trained in complex inguinal hernia surgery due to the significant exposure of more than 30 scrotal hernias per resident within five days. Our operating room nurses, and especially our sterilisation specialist, also exchanged extensive knowledge respectfully.

GHR is a foundation established in the Netherlands in 2019 with the Dutch ANBI status that:

1. performs free inguinal hernia surgeries in countries where people lack access to medical care.

2. Provides education and training to local physicians in training.

3. Stimulates local scientific research by awarding annual GHR Travel Grants to physicians from LMIC (during the annual AHS and EHS meetings).

Once again, this mission, in close collaboration with Operation Hernia (Chris Oppong, Plymouth, UK), was a great success.

GHR’s activities are entirely dependent on donations. Would you like to contribute to making these life-changing missions possible? Visit GlobalHerniaRelief.com for more information.

For US donations, there is a special deduction from taxes possible because we have the 501(c)3 status. Please use this Friends Fund for donations to our GHR Foundation.

Use this link: Thenaf.org/globalherniarelief

Team 2025

Surgeons: Erwin van Geffen, Doeke Boersma, Kevin Buckley (USA), Giel Koning

Anesthesiologists: Gert Jan Wagteveld, Barbe Pieters, Jorgo Lambrou

Recovery: Ingrid vd Ven, Ingrid van Asseldonk

Scrub nurses: Wendy van Erp, Kiki Lampe

Sterilisation: Albert Wagenaar