In a demonstration of dedication, skill, and compassion, a multidisciplinary surgical team at the Ho Teaching Hospital spent seven intensive hours in theatre to save the life of four-year-old girl, name withheld, who had been battling kidney cancer. The girl, who was diagnosed with a huge, complex retroperitoneal mass “Wilm's tumour”, which progressively doubled in size during the neoadjuvant therapy period, had been on admission for several months, enduring pain and discomfort as her family struggled to raise funds for the life-saving surgery.

Hope was finally restored when the Ghana Medical Trust Fund (MahamaCares) intervened to fully cover the cost of the surgery. On the day of the operation, surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses, and theatre staff worked seamlessly for over seven hours to carefully remove the tumour and stabilise the young patient. The lengthy procedure required precision, stamina, and unwavering focus, given her age and the complexity of the condition.

Speaking after the successful surgery, Dr. Nelson Affram, Head of Surgery, Ho Teaching Hospital, described the operation as “challenging but deeply fulfilling,” noting that “every minute in theatre was driven by one goal — to give this child a chance at life...” A medical staff said the surgery marked a turning point in her recovery and that since the operation, her condition had improved significantly, bringing relief and joy to her family and caregivers. The girl’s mother, Esther Addeh, could not hold back her emotions as she expressed gratitude to both the Government and the medical team. “I had lost hope, but MahamaCares and the doctors gave my daughter a second chance. I will be grateful forever,” she said.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ho Teaching Hospital, Dr. Hintermann K.K. Mbroh, commended the surgical team for its professionalism, teamwork, and commitment to patient-centred care, describing the operation as a reflection of the Hospital’s growing capacity to manage complex cases. He lauded the MahamaCares initiative for its timely intervention and urged Ghanaians to support the Fund in bridging the gap in advance healthcare. The CEO said HTH was privileged to be part of the pilot phase of MahamaCares treatment plan.

HTH: SAVE A LIFE, SAVE THE WORLD
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