Wenchi Methodist Hospital

The town of Wenchi is located in west-central Ghana, in the Brong Ahafo Region between the cities of Kumasi to the southeast and Tamale to the northeast. The population is about 40,000, with large numbers of both Christians and Muslims. Small-scale agriculture is the mainstay of the economy. The people in Wenchi are known to be “football” or soccer fans, who follow both foreign and local teams. One of the largest annual events is the annual Yam festival. Occurring in August, it marks the end of the first rainy season and harvesting of the yam – the staple crop of Wenchi.

Become familiar with Ghana’s culture, history and economy by reviewing the Wikipedia Ghana Profile. Rich resources for Ghana health information include the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation IHME Ghana Country Profile and the World Health Organization Global Health Observatory Ghana Data.

Those coming to Wenchi Methodist Hospital are often impoverished. Some of the most common medical problems encountered are malaria, malnutrition, pneumonia, hepatitis B, tropical ulcers, typhoid fever, inguinal hernias, pregnancy complications, schistosomiasis, hypertension and anemia. Of Ghana’s 21 million residents, less than 2 percent are currently living with the HIV/AIDS virus, and 31 percent live below the official poverty line, with little access to any type of medical care.

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.

Wenchi Methodist Hospital, started in 1951, is a general district hospital and is a health care ministry of the Methodist Church Ghana. The hospital inpatient capacity is 90 beds with men’s, women’s and children’s wards. It is supported by pharmacy, X-ray, ultrasound, and laboratory with blood transfusion capability. The hospital also offers obstetrics, general surgery, urology, optometric, and chaplain services. Referral of more difficult cases is made to the Regional Hospital in Sunyani, a distance of about 80 km.

Some 200 outpatients are seen daily. Services include a comprehensive and reputable ophthalmology and optometric department. The Wenchi Hospital is a referral center to the 18 other outpatient health facilities. Regional traditional birth attendants refer complicated obstetrical cases to the Wenchi as well.

Full-time physicians usually include 3-5 Ghanaian doctors, two of whom are residency trained in orthopedics and urology. They are assisted by Ghanaian midwives, clinical officers, community health workers, and visiting international medical consultants.

This region of Ghana is increasingly afflicted by the HIV epidemic, a phenomena complicated by complex cultural mores. Wenchi Methodist Hospital in response has developed a mature HIV program that offers Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) and protocol-driven Prevention of Mother To Child Transmission (PMTCT) prophylactic medication. Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) is available and supported by on-site CD4 measurement capability.

Experienced HIV care staff are available to share their insight with learners, who can in turn participate in most every aspect of this critical intervention, including public education events, HIV counseling, antiretroviral therapy, and management of opportunistic infections with the assistance of the acute care hospital staff. Throughout, emphasis is that learners appreciate the challenges and care required to meaningfully assist persons living with HIV/AIDS.

INMED invites all participants to consider raising extra funds to donate to support this facility. While such efforts are not required, they will provide opportunities for INMED personnel to become involved in this important aspect of international healthcare.

Internet access is available, most commonly via mobile phone modem. Phones, modems and usage minutes can be purchased locally.