By Hafsa Obeng, GNA
Accra, Oct. 28, GNA – The Global Alliance for Surgical, Obstetric, Trauma and Anaesthesia Care (G4 Alliance), a global coalition of about 80 organisations, is set to convene its first Surgical Care Dialogue in Accra.
The dialogue, scheduled for November 9 and 10, will bring together health professionals, policymakers, development partners and financiers to explore ways of improving access to safe, quality and affordable surgical care across Africa.
The event, being organised in partnership with Mercy Ships and the Diaspora Africa Forum (DAF), is expected to build on Ghana’s National Surgical, Obstetric and Anaesthesia Plan (NSOAP) and identify practical measures to strengthen health systems, mobilise resources and improve patient outcomes.
Dr Evelyn Abayaah-Issah, a G4 Alliance board member and Administrative Secretary of the Traditional Medicine Practice Council under the Ministry of Health, said the dialogue would focus on addressing persistent gaps in access to essential surgical services.
She noted that about two-thirds of the world’s population lacked access to safe surgical care, making the issue a major global health concern.
Dr Abayaah-Issah said Ghana’s experience in developing and implementing its National Surgical, Obstetric and Anaesthesia Plan provided a strong foundation for discussions on advancing health sovereignty and improving healthcare delivery across the continent.
She said the meeting would bring together African health ministers, regional bodies, clinicians, financiers and other stakeholders to explore sustainable approaches to financing and delivering essential surgical services.
According to her, the objective was to translate existing policy commitments into practical interventions that would improve access to care.
Dr Juliette Tuaklie, Ambassador for Mercy Ships in Africa, said the organisation was pleased to partner with the G4 Alliance to advance access to surgical care based on medical needs rather than geographical location or financial circumstances.
She said Ghana had demonstrated leadership through the development of its National Surgical, Obstetric and Anaesthesia Plan, but the real challenge was translating the policy into lasting improvements in healthcare delivery.
Dr Tuaklie said the dialogue would provide an opportunity to discuss financing, professional training, infrastructure, and other measures needed to improve patient outcomes.
She said delegates would visit the Mercy Ship docked at Tema on November 7 to observe how surgical services, medical training and international collaboration could strengthen healthcare systems.
Dr Tuaklie said Mercy Ships would remain in Ghana for 10 months, during which it would undertake medical and surgical training in collaboration with local health institutions.
She said the training programme was designed to build local capacity and ensure that the benefits continued after the ship departed.
Dr Erica Bennett, Head of Mission of the Diaspora Africa Forum, said the initiative also highlighted the contribution of the African diaspora to the continent’s development.
She said the Forum was committed to promoting meaningful partnerships between Africa and the diaspora, particularly in sectors such as healthcare where specialised knowledge and skills could strengthen local institutions.
Dr John Sampson, a G4 Alliance board member and medical representative of DAF, said an emergency trauma training programme would be organised for about 80 paramedics, ambulance drivers and other personnel on November 5 at the University of Ghana Medical Simulation Centre.
He said the programme would be organised by the Institute of Global Perioperative Care, DAF and the G4 Alliance, with training led by Dr Mallory Williams, Chief of Trauma Surgery at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, United States.
Dr Sampson said diaspora involvement would focus on knowledge transfer, strengthening local institutions and building sustainable capacity rather than creating parallel healthcare systems.
Dr Neil Wetzig, President of the G4 Alliance Permanent Council, said the alliance sought to facilitate collaboration among governments, professional bodies, academic institutions, non-governmental organisations and development partners to address gaps in surgical care.
He said conditions requiring surgical intervention accounted for significant preventable deaths and disabilities globally, largely because essential services were unavailable or inaccessible.
Dr Wetzig said the dialogue would focus on mobilising political commitment and financial and human resources, strengthening health systems and ensuring that patients received the care they needed when they needed it.
He said the alliance’s approach was to support country-led initiatives rather than impose externally determined solutions.
Dr Wetzig expressed optimism that the dialogue would build on Ghana’s experience and accelerate progress in other African countries.
The G4 Alliance advocates universal access to safe, timely and affordable essential surgical, obstetric, trauma and anaesthesia care services worldwide.
GNA
Edited by Lydia Kukua Asamoah
Reporter: Hafsa Obeng