University Of Ghana Departments Of Anesthesia
University Of Ghana Departments Of Anesthesia About
Establishment
An Unconfirmed report indicates that there was a British Physician Anaesthetist Dr. Graham who worked in the hospital from 1955-1958. In 1956 Prof. Sir Robert Macintosh visited the then Gold Coast to demonstrate the use of EMO, which thereafter became available. The Boyle’s Anaesthetic Machine became available in the Korle Bu Hospital in 1957.
In 1963, Prof. K.A Oduro the first Ghanaian with a Fellowship qualification in Anaesthesia joined the department. At that time there was another Ghanaian and 5 non Ghanaian Anaesthetists in the department. They all had the diploma in Anaesthesia qualification .After 1963 two more Ghanaians with the fellowship qualification joined the Department. In 1972, another non-Ghanaian Dr. S.L.V. Zwane joined the department. He remained in the country until 1980 at the independence of his country.
There have always been nurse anaesthetists in the hospital. There were 12 of them in 1963. Ministry of health established a training school in Korle-Bu teaching hospital in 1964 but this was later on moved to Okomfo Anokye teaching hospital in Kumasi.
In 1964, the first open-heart surgery was performed. The patient had a trial septal defect and she was done under general anaesthesia and hypothermia. In the same year, a successful anaethesia and surgery for phaeochromocytoma in an 18 year old Ghanaian female with Hb sickle cell disease was achieved.
On 1st January 1966, department of anaestheisia of the medical school was established. Dr. K.A Oduro was appointed acting head with Dr. C. G. Boateng as a member of the department. A 3-member committee which had been set up in 1965 had recommended the setting up of an independent department of anaesthesia and a 6 week rotation for each student in small groups. In 1970, one of the 1st batches of students from the medical school, Prof. Yaw Adu-Gyamfi joined the department as a medical officer. in 1971 he went to the UK to continue his training. he is now a full professor and is in sierra leone up anaesthestic services in that country.
List of Heads Of Departments And The Periods Of Their Headship
Prof. Kofi Amoah Oduro 1966-1993
Dr. (Mrs) M.N.K. Nelson 1993 (Acting Head)
Dr. Henry Kpakpo Baddoo 1994-1996
Dr. Frank Boni 1996-1998
Prof. Gladys Amposah 1998-2002
Prof. Yaw Adu-Gyamfi 2002-2003
Dr. Henry Kpakpo Baddoo 2003-2005
Dr. Eugenia Lamptey 2005 to date
Undergraduate and Postgraduate Programmes Run By the Department
1. Final year medical students do five-weeks rotation in the department in small groups of 23-26.
2. Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons – Membership and Fellowship.
3. West African College of Surgeons – Diploma and Fellowship
Other departmental responsibilities
Ø CPR training for the hospital staff and other institutions
Ø Provides Intensive Care Services (at ICU)
Ø Anaesthetic cover for radiological investigations, endoscopy and radiotherapy.
Ø Acute and chronic pain management.
Ø Runs anaesthetic clinic for patients being prepared for surgery.
University Of Ghana Departments Of Anesthesia Programs
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