Hernia, a Significant Cause of Morbidity in Ghana – Dr. Owusu

Inguinal hernia remains a major cause of morbidity in Ghana, with many cases turning into medical emergencies due to delays in treatment, Dr. Godfred Owusu, General Surgeon at Ankaase Methodist Faith Hospital, has said.

Dr. Owusu explained that many complications arise because patients often fail to seek early medical attention or attend regular medical check-ups. As a result, cases that could have been treated earlier sometimes escalate into emergency situations.

He made the remarks during a free hernia screening and surgical intervention exercise at the Ankaase Methodist Faith Hospital in the Afigya-Kwabre South District of the Ashanti Region.

The programme is being organised by the Methodist Health Trust to provide hernia treatment and related medical interventions for patients across its health facilities at Ankaase, Aburaso and Apagya hospitals. So far, more than 800 patients have benefited from the initiative across the three facilities.

According to Dr. Owusu, the intervention programme began about three years ago to support individuals suffering from chronic hernia conditions and to help reduce the backlog of patients awaiting surgical procedures.

He noted that the current exercise, initially scheduled to run for only one week, had to be extended to one month due to the high number of people seeking treatment.

The initiative is particularly focused on improving access to healthcare for economically disadvantaged individuals who may otherwise be unable to afford surgery. Dr. Owusu said the programme also aims to reduce the broader burden of hernia-related conditions in the country.

He expressed satisfaction with the progress of the surgeries conducted so far, noting that all procedures performed to date had been successful and expressing optimism that the remaining surgeries would also record positive outcomes.

Mrs. Gloria Agyeiwaa Osei Boateng, Nurse Manager at the facility, cautioned the public against relying on unverified herbal remedies to treat hernia. She warned that such practices could worsen the condition and make eventual surgical treatment more complicated.

As of March 6, 2026, the Ankaase Methodist Faith Hospital alone had performed more than 200 hernia surgeries, while the Aburaso and Apagya hospitals had also recorded a significant number of procedures.

About 30 percent of the surgeries were performed on women, highlighting that the condition affects both men and women. Mrs. Osei Boateng also appealed to the government, through the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), to fully subsidize hernia treatment to make surgery more accessible for patients across the country.

Many beneficiaries of the programme expressed gratitude to the Methodist Health Trust for the opportunity to receive treatment and hoped similar interventions would continue to support others in need.

Source: GNA