Yang Yongguang, head of the 14th batch of the Chinese medical team to Ghana, presents a training session on laparoscopic minimally invasive surgery at an advanced medical training program at China-Ghana Friendship (Lekma) Hospital in Accra, Ghana, Jan. 12, 2026. (Photo by Seth/Xinhua)
ACCRA, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- The 14th batch of the Chinese medical team in Ghana, along with the China-Ghana Friendship (Lekma) Hospital, on Monday organized an advanced medical training program for local surgeons in the capital, Accra.
Yang Yongguang, head of the medical team, said the program, focusing on laparoscopic minimally invasive and cataract surgery, aimed to build a sustainable platform for academic exchange and skill enhancement, while promoting the wider clinical application of these techniques in Ghana.
With the support of the Chinese medical team, Yang said Lekma Hospital has successfully performed some pioneering minimally invasive and cataract surgeries, "many of which were firsts in Ghana and West Africa."
"Thanks to our collective efforts, the hospital has evolved from a general medical institution into a regional healthcare center distinguished by its strengths in minimally invasive surgery and cataract treatment," Yang said.
Mahamadu Zakariah, head of the surgical unit at Lekma Hospital, noted that laparoscopic surgery is the way to go in modern healthcare, considering its quick turnaround time and reduced blood loss.
He lauded the Chinese medical team for its collaboration with the Chinese business community in Ghana to support the development of laparoscopic surgery in the hospital.
According to Zakariah, the support has helped achieve two key objectives: providing subsidized surgeries for local patients and enabling Ghanaian surgeons to gain hands-on experience and master the technique through frequent procedures. ■
Mahamadu Zakariah, head of the surgical unit at Lekma Hospital, speaks at the first China-Ghana advanced training course in laparoscopic minimally invasive and cataract surgery at the China-Ghana Friendship (Lekma) Hospital in Accra, Ghana, Jan. 12, 2026. (Photo by Seth/Xinhua)
This photo taken on Jan. 12, 2026 shows the first China-Ghana advanced training course in laparoscopic minimally invasive and cataract surgery at the China-Ghana Friendship (Lekma) Hospital in Accra, Ghana. (Photo by Seth/Xinhua)