A New Model for Healthcare in Sub-Saharan Africa

The HopeXchange Ghana Health Project is a collaborative international effort aimed at increasing healthcare capacity in Sub-Saharan Africa through the development of an innovative, replicable, and scalable model. It is directed in a close collaboration with the Ghana Ministry of Health and a network of prominent local and international partners.

The Project addresses major health issues- particularly of woman and children, in Sub-Saharan Africa. These include infectious diseases (HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria), maternal-child health (prenatal screening, nutrition and immunizations), and cancer (with a special focus on breast, cervical and prostate cancer), as well as specialized fields of medical interest such as ophthalmology (avoidable blindness, pediatric ophthalmology, vitreoretinal disease), craniofacial malformations (cleft lip and palate), diseases of the alimentary tract, and diseases of the endocrine system.

The Project’s strategic plan has been progressively defined through a prolonged and respectful dialogue with key Ghanaian stakeholders. This has resulted in enthusiastic endorsement by the President of Ghana and all the major medical, educational, civic, and religious institutions of the country as well as international medical and training institutions.

The Project is designed as an incremental process adaptable to meet regional and global needs. The initial pilot program has been launched in two regions of Ghana (the Ashanti region and the Greater Accra region) with mid-term plans to expand the Project nationally and subsequently to other countries of Sub-Saharan Africa.

The Project will be headquartered at the HopeXchange Medical Center - a newly constructed hospital facility in the city of Kumasi, Ghana. The Medical Center will serve as the primary clinical and research site for The Project. It will be a regional hub for the delivery of specialized medical training and patient services. The three main elements to the Medical Center are the Clinical Units, The Institute for Medical Education and Clinical Training, and the Clinical and Translational Research Program.