Ghana is a country located along the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean in West Africa. With a population of 24 million, Ghana has three cancer centers/hospitals. They have a total of four radiation machines, which is one radiation machine for every six million people, sadly short of the 160 machines they need to treat their population. With high birth rates, decreasing death rates and a subsequent increase in the elderly population in Ghana, the incidence of non-communicable diseases such as cancer is rapidly on the rise and is a leading cause of death in Ghana.
There are three radiation oncology centers in Ghana, two government operated and one private. The two government hospitals, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi and the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra have cobalt machines; while the Swedish Ghana Medical Center in Accra has a linear accelerator.
We have been working directly with Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, which is the premier government health institution in the country. It provides radiation oncology services to the vast majority of the country and as well as to neighboring Burkina Faso and Togo. The department consists of:
We have been working directly with Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, which is the premier government health institution in the country. It provides radiation oncology services to the vast majority of the country and as well as to neighboring Burkina Faso and Togo. The department consists of:
- 3 radiation oncologists
- 4 residents
- 3 physicists
Global Radiation Oncology Workforce (GROW)
- Project Manager: Dr. Nathan Tonlaar, William Beaumont Hospital
- Physics advisor: Aaron Odom
- Physics staff: Samuel Tagoe
- Collaborators: Dr. Joel Yarney and Dr Verna Vanderpuye
We first visited Ghana in 2008 as medical students. This was our first time seeing Cobalt therapy in action and our first exposure to cancer care in developing countries. Since that time we have made efforts to advance the cancer center in the region. In the winter of 2014/2015 a team, led by experts Dr. Anuja Jhingran of MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Dr. Nathan Tonlaar from William Beaumont Hospital, along with several others, were prepared to train the center with their first ever HDR brachytherapy unit.
The trip was altered with the Ebola outbreaks in Western Africa, however Dr. Tonlaar was able to complete the mission. We have donated several pieces of radiation equipment to this center and will continue to support its growth and expansion.
The trip was altered with the Ebola outbreaks in Western Africa, however Dr. Tonlaar was able to complete the mission. We have donated several pieces of radiation equipment to this center and will continue to support its growth and expansion.
Ghana is especially famous for the warmth and friendliness of its people. A former British colony, the official language is English, though you will find over 40 local languages being spoken in the country with Twi being the most widely spoken local language. Ghana is a highly stable country with a multi-party democracy for over two decades.
- Linear Accelerator
- Additional Cobalt Machines
- CT Scanner F
- Cerrobend, Block Cutters, and Mixing Pot for Treatment Blocks
- Film pProcessor
- Basic Medical Supplies- Robes, Linen, Gloves
- Ion Chambers
- Electrometer PTW
- TLD’s
- Electrometer to Read TLD’s
- TPS
- Mini Water Tank
- Software
- Hood
- Masks Thermoformable, Support Mask
Pictures coming soon.
