Strengthening Primary Health Care Through a Longstanding Global Health Partnership: Charting the Transition From Short-Term Hernia Missions to a Self-Sustaining Hospital

Aim Hernia missions to low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) are well described and effectively reduce the global public health burden of this condition. When linked to wider health care interventions, education, and training, they deliver a more sustainable impact. The considerable impact of a 15-year-long global health partnership in the Savannah region of Ghana is described. Methods Since 2008, 13 hernia teams have visited the village of Carpenter to perform surgery. These visits have taken place alongside a team of health professionals from Canada and the UK, supported by charities and working in partnership with a Ghanaian non-governmental organisation (NGO). Results 2,618 hernia patients, 55,000 medical patients, 6,335 eye patients and 2,120 dental patients have been treated. Scholarships support training of rural health care workers, and have supported health care management training, specialist training in obstetrics and gynaecology, general surgery and orthopaedics, pharmacy, nursing, and midwifery. In 2023, a 100-bed general hospital, the Leyaata Hospital, opened and has become the area’s essential health care hub. It offers specialist care, maternity, chronic disease management clinics, diagnostic imaging services and emergency services. The global health partnership has pivoted to teaching, training, and supporting the Leyaata house staff based on identified needs. This partnership continues to make significant contributions to UN Sustainable Development Goals 3, 4, 10, 17. Conclusions Humanitarian missions in the context of a longstanding global health partnership can have a considerable impact in an LMIC by strengthening primary health care, improving equity, and driving sustainable change.