| Ghana Mission Invitation |
 Invitation to Mission to develop adult and adult congenital heart surgery in Kumasi, Ghana February 6-20, 2010The International Management Committee takes pleasure in announcing the second mission to Kumasi, Ghana. Volunteers will be enlisted from previous waiting list files, and on a first come, first served basis. You are encouraged to apply, and if there is insufficient room on one particular mission, your name will be held forward for the next available mission. The Republic of Ghana is in West Africa. Kumasi lays West of Accra, the capital. This second major historic city was once the capital of the Ashanti Empire. It continues to serve as the cultural center of the Ashanti people. Although the city was destroyed almost a century ago, modern Kumasi contains a good cultural center and museum as well as the modern palace of the Asantehene. Ghana has been widely viewed as one of Africa's most stable democracies, becoming a republic in July 1960. It was the first African nation to achieve independence from its colonial heritage under the United Kingdom in 1957. The name Ghana was chosen for the new nation to reflect the ancient Empire of Ghana that once extended throughout much of western Africa, (in the Ashanti language, it is spelled Gaana). It compares in size to Oregon, USA, and its largest river is the Volta. In Jan. 2001, John Agyekum Kufuor was elected president. In 2002, he set up a National Reconciliation Commission to review human rights abuses during the country's military rule. He was reelected in Dec. 2004. Much of the historical interest in Ghana is based upon its legacy as the center of the gold, ivory, and slave trade during the 17th and 18th centuries. In modern times, Ghana possesses one of the best game reserves in West Africa, a multitude of good beaches and is widely known for its people's hospitality.  Cardiac Surgery Status in Ghana There is a single center in Accra. The National Cardiothoracic Center is performing a small number of cases each year (approximately, 100, mostly valves). Accra cannot do more than a small volume of cases due to varying types of restrictions, and some of these are fee-paying private cases. The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi serves a regionally more deprived population. It has already received assistance from major centers including the Mayo Clinic, led by Dr. Lewis Roberts, and the Boston Children's Hospital (who have completed four missions in the old hospital, under the direction of Dr. Fynn-Thompson). Dr. Phillip Wendschuh, a cardiologist volunteer from Cleveland, OH provided an intensive ICU and general specialist training conference. This month, Dr. Fynn-Thompson and Boston Children’s Hospital colleagues will be carrying out pediatric cardiac surgery. CardioStart’s role will be to further develop a comprehensive adult cardiac surgery program, and do pediatric heart surgery not completed in October. This will be part of a regular visiting program alternating between pediatric and adult cardiac surgery, collaborating with the Boston Children's team by going at different times, to complement their work. CardioStart's first container was sent to Ghana in September 2008, and another is likely to be sent later this year from Tampa, Florida. OUR MISSION: ADULT & PEDIATRIC CARDIAC SURGERY TEAM ONE: The team will inspect, unload and distribute the contents of the container to be sent in December. We will then quickly prepare the OR and ICU to develop the operation program to be carried out in the new center. CardioStart will work with the local team to further establish cardiac surgery at the Hospital and help set the necessary benchmarks for the Hospital to become a regional tertiary referral center. As part of this mission, we will be assisting development with more complex procedures, help evolve the rhythm of regular operating, monitor progress and continue providing ongoing physician and nurse cardiology/surgical medical education. Our first series of cases will follow preparation of the entire program with nursing, biomedical, perfusion, ICU equipment preparation and teaching. The commencement of simple bypass cases will follow according to the discretion of the heart surgeons, in collaboration with the Ghana team and will likely be adult congenital presentations or valvular pathology, subject to cardiology review and recommendation. Some pediatric cases will also be introduced. There is currently no catheter suite but pacing assistance will be possible during this time period. Recommended Cardiac surgery team requirements: 1 pediatric/ and 1-2 adult anesthesiologists 1 Anesthetic assistant/technician 1 intensivist 1 Laboratory medicine physician/hematologist 2 -3 adult cardiac surgeons 2 Cardiologists 1-2 perfusionists 6 ICU nurses (2 with pediatric experience) 1 biomed engineer 1 respiratory therapist 2 educational instructors 2 OR Nurses/Techs (1 circulating, 1 scrub) TEAM TWO: Development of the Emergency Room and Trauma Facilities. In the new center, the equipment and building design has already been established to provide major regional trauma management. A small 2-3-person emergency management team will focus on developing protocols and triage management scenarios. Development of emergency care and transfer principles will also be offered to peripheral clinics in the region. Airfare: Airfare costs will be self-funded by each volunteer. Popular flight corridors are through Frankfurt, Amsterdam or London to Accra. Volunteers will stay the night in Accra and then join a bus provided by KATH (five hours). In calculating your airfare, first select the most convenient international embarkation point from your home state, as domestic travel can be negotiated separately and sometimes, much cheaper. Lodging: This will be graciously provided for by our hosts. Volunteers should expect that they may be asked to agree to same-sex room sharing in order to help reduce the costs incurred by our hosts. CardioStart will assure minimum standards to ensure volunteer safety and comfort, but we will try to be sensitive to the financial burden borne by the local officials. Meals: During the day, meals will be available and provided for by the hospital. Evening meals/snacks, etc. are available in the hotel or local restaurants in Kumasi, at volunteer’s own expense. They are generally of a high standard and inexpensive.  Travel/touring: Safari, coastal trips and other adventures are worth considering. CardioStart mission leaders cannot directly help you make internal tourist travel arrangements but you can usually obtain cheap travel packages during the week you arrive. Any tour arrangements should be made after the mission ends. This time is considered a personal vacation and is not part of the mission; therefore, CardioStart assumes no responsibility.Medical issues: (Full details will be sent to those volunteers joining this mission). All volunteer activity will be carried out with full HIV precautionary measures. You should have a routine check before travel of your HIV and Hepatitis a/b/c status. Vaccinations must include a current Yellow Fever, and tetanus protection (within 10 years) with certification. Volunteers will be advised to take malaria prophylaxis just before the mission and those with serious medical conditions should obtain consultation and approval from their doctor prior to the mission. Please see the CDC website for international travel guidelines. Applying to join the team: If you wish to serve on this team, contact us immediately by sending a copy of your CV/Resume to Linda at our main office: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Your CV/Resume will be reviewed by the Ghana Mission Director, Dr. Uday Dandekar, and you will be notified within 2 weeks. If accepted, you will then receive a registration packet stating all the required documents. There is a $ 40.00 (USD) registration fee. Selection will be on a “first come – first served” basis and according to positions needed for the team. All pre-mission information will be sent by e-mail from our Tampa office. Therefore, we request a personal e-mail address (not employment address) so that you can receive electronically derived information and attachments about the mission. (Volunteers using hospital or company web servers sometimes find that their institution’s spam filters block attachments and group mailings). We need help with Cardio/Vascular/Thoracic OR instruments, ICU disposables, central lines, oxygenators for heart surgery bypass, and general medical donations to donate to the Hospital. If you hear of any equipment to donate, please contact our Tampa office. ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ). Warm regards, Mr. Uday Dandekar, MD, Mission Director |