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Ankaase, Ghana, West Africa
Summary
People coming to this rural hospital are usually impoverished, and suffer from malaria, malnutrition, pneumonia, tropical ulcers, typhoid fever, inguinal hernias, pregnancy complications, schistosomiasis, hypertension and anemia. HIV is also a growing concern. Ankaase Methodist Hospital provides innovative care that includes not only hospital services, but also a renutrition center for malnourished children, literacy classes, and care for persons living with HIV/AIDS.
Several American medical students and resident physician come to Ankaase Hospital each year where they are mentored by Cameron R. Gongwer, MD, and his medical team. Clinical responsibilities will normally include outpatient clinic, inpatient care, obstetrics, pediatrics, and surgery. Students may take night call and be responsible for their own inpatients. Students are constantly under the guidance of a staff physician.
LocationAnkaase is a town located near the city of Kumasi in the Ashanti Region of central Ghana, West Africa - about 100 miles NE of the nation's capital, Accra. The town is in a rural farming community and has a local market with limited shopping. Many people from the dry, desolate north of Ghana have more recently moved into this region. Christianity and Islam are dominate.
Transportation
International travelers should fly into Accra, the capital. The Ghana Baptist Mission operates a guesthouse in Accra where travelers can spend the night at a nominal fee. An advanced reservation will be necessary. Someone from the hospital will normally meet visitors at the international airport in Accra.
Travel to Ankaase may be via road or air. A 45-minute flight runs on Monday through Saturday in the early morning and late afternoon. The trip from Kumasi to Ankaase is usually less than one hour by car. Alternatively, the 140-mile bus trip from Accra to Kumasi provides a unique opportunity to see the country up close, but takes about six hours.
Recommended Travel Agent
It is generally best to begin travel plans three to six months in advance. INMED can recommend a travel agent appropriate for this location.
Visa Requirement
Americans require a visa for entry into Ghana. The visa must be obtained in advance and cannot be granted at the airport. Contact the Ghanaian embassy for visa application information: http://www.ghana-embassy.org/. Application should be made at least two months in advance. OBTAIN A TOURIST VISA ONLY!
Traveler's Health & Safety
Please check the CDC travel website for the most up-to-date health information: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx. Visitors are advised to regularly check the U.S. State Department website for the most up-to-date information regarding travel advisories: http://www.state.gov/travel. Visitors are advised to regularly check the U.S. State Department website for the most up-to-date information regarding country specific travel information http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1765.html
Facility
Ankaase Methodist Hospital was started in 1991 with assistance from the Methodist Church Ghana and The Mission Society. Today it provides medical care for the more than 10,000 residents in the immediate area and for those in surrounding towns and villages. The hospital capacity is 60 beds, and average censes is 50. Hospital has a pharmacy, X-ray and ultrasound, laboratory with blood transfusion capability, and endoscopy capabilities. The hospital also offers obstetrics and surgery.
An average of 50-80 outpatients are seen daily in the clinic. A nutrition center provides supplements for young children and nutrition education for their parents. In addition, the hospital reaches out into the broader community through nutrition education, literacy classes, and care for persons living with HIV/AIDS.
Website
An article about Ankaase Methodist Hospital can be viewed at http://www.msum.org/go/ankaase
Patients
People coming to Ankaase Methodist Hospital are often impoverished. Some of the most common medical problems encountered are malaria, malnutrition, pneumonia, tropical ulcers, typhoid fever, inguinal hernias, pregnancy complications, schistosomiasis, hypertension and anemia. Of Ghana's 21 million residents, 3.1 percent are currently living with the HIV/AIDS virus, and 31 percent live below the poverty line, with little access to any type of medical care.
Medical Staff
Cameron R. Gongwer, MD, is an American physician serving full-time at Ankaase Methodist Hospital. Dr. Gongwer completed a diploma course in tropical medicine at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. His colleagues include one Ghanaian physician and two Cuban physicians. In addition, a number of physicians from America and other nations visit for short periods each year.
Languages
English is the official language of Ghana. Health personnel will be able to work in English at times with translation available in Asante Twi, the local language spoken by most people.
Student Experience
Several American medical students and resident physician come to Ankaase Hospital each year. Clinical responsibilities will normally include outpatient clinic, inpatient care, obstetrics, pediatrics, and surgery. Visiting staff are encouraged to bring their own medical instruments. Students may take night call and be responsible for their own inpatients. Students are constantly under the guidance of a staff physician.
Student Blogs
Student Lodging & Meals
Visiting medical personnel are housed in a hospital guesthouse at a nominal fee. The guesthouse has electricity and cold running water They can purchase groceries in the nearby city of Kumasi and make their own meals at the guesthouse. Normally, a local cook is also available to prepare hot meals. Visitors should bring along any special foods and snacks. The hospital staff usually have devotions on Tuesday and Thursday mornings before rounds.
Outside Communication
The hospital has Internet access for e-mail.
Facility Support
INMED invites all participants to consider raising extra funds to donate to support the facility. This is not required but allows INMED participants to become involved in every aspect of medical missions.
Dress
Clothing for clinical work is similar to that worn in the United States. Men can wear casual trousers and cotton short-sleeved shirts. No shorts or T-shirts. Long skirts and slacks may be worn by women. The hospital provides surgical scrubs.
What To Pack
Travelers are advised to pack a carry on bag that contains one's essentials just in case luggage becomes lost. Also, it is usually best to bring two suit cases, each half full, in order to have a place to pack souvenirs for the return trip. Recent INMED students recommend:
Pharmacopia book, Stanford antibiotic guide, Granola bars, water bottle, small back pack, peanut butter, skirts and blouses, sandals, flashlight and batteries, BP cuff, wrist watch, old running shoes, books for entertainment, writing paper, bug spray, film, a good digital camera, battery powered alarm clock, sunscreen, transistor radio, hat, and gifts to give the national hospital staff, such as T-shirts.