There are two specified options for 4th/6th year medical student rotations in Cape Coast, Ghana: Emergency Medicine & General Surgery

Emergency Medicine

The specialty of emergency medicine was started in 2009 in Ghana, following the establishment of the national ambulance service in 2004.  The right to emergency medical care is enshrined in Ghana’s constitution.  Witness this right come to life in the Emergency Room of the largest hospital in Cape Coast, Ghana.  Cape Coast is known for its beautiful coastline and historical relevance for the slave trade and colonial devastation.  History and current day collide during your rotation, exploring how the health system is addressing accidents, injuries, acute illnesses, and chronic illness exacerbation. 

This rotation allows you to rotate alongside student nurses and doctors from Ghana, building lifelong friendships and collegiality.  Learn more about the guidelines to strengthen emergency services in Ghana here

General Surgery

General surgery has a wide breadth of practice in Ghana. General surgery is part of SOTA initiatives in health systems globally which includes surgery, obstetrics, trauma and anesthesia.  It is estimated that 28% of the global disability from health issues is due to surgical conditions.

This rotation allows you to experience the practice of surgery in a dynamic West African context.  It is estimated that the health system only meets 12% of the trauma surgery needs for the 30 million Ghanians – work alongside the doctors, nurses, surgical techs, anesthesiologists and others committed to improving access and quality.

The Lancet Commission on Global Surgery (LCoGS) recommends 5,000 surgical procedures per 100,000 population as a target to meet population surgical needs. The current surgical volume rate in Ghana is 869 surgical procedures per 100,000 population. The six domains of the national surgical system framework adapted from the lancet commission on global surgery and WHO health systems building blocks include the following:  Service Delivery (Surgical volume, systems coordination, quality and safety); Workforce (Surgical, anesthesia and obstetric providers and allied health providers); Infrastructure (Surgical facilities, facility readiness, blood supply and referral systems); Health Financing (Health facility financing and accounting, budget allocation) Information Management (Information systems and data streams, local research agenda); Governance (Policy and political architecture to improve visibility and accountability). 

Start your application today!

To apply, select “Global Health in Ghana (Cape Coast).” After you fill out the application forms and receive confirmation of acceptance from the CFHI team, please indicate your preferred elective focus under the placement preferences section in your dashboard.

Let the World Change You!

CFHI’s award-winning programs are rooted in ethical best practices and prioritize safe, high quality experiental learning opportunities. As a final-year medical student, your elective is a unique opportunity to apply and broaden your clinical knowledge in real-world settings, preparing you for the transition into residency.
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