International Surgical Health Initiative (ISHI)

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International Surgical Health Initiative (ISHI)

ISHI provides free surgical care to underserved communities around the world. ISHI
ISHI Global
ISHI (Canada) Inc.

05/10/2026

The final two days of the Ghana mission went by incredibly fast!!

The team completed the last nine scheduled surgeries before an urgent case came in late in the day, keeping the OR going several more hours. Patients continued recovering well, with a smaller team staying behind to complete final post-op checks before handing care back over to the local staff.

Volunteers also spent time sorting and repacking supplies to return to the United States, while leaving behind donated equipment and materials for future missions in Ghana.

Friday night, the hospital hosted a thank-you dinner for the ISHI team. Staff, volunteers, and leadership reflected on a partnership that has now lasted more than 10 years. There was local food, music, dancing and a lot of gratitude shared between both teams. ISHI also presented TQMH staff with blue ISHI shirts to reflect the “one team” approach that has defined this partnership over the years. 💙

On Saturday, the remaining team completed final patient visits before heading back to Accra. The last few hours together were spent reflecting on the week, talking about future missions, and saying goodbye before flights home.

This mission will stay with all of us for a long time. We leave grateful for the patients, the partnership and every volunteer, supporter, and family member who helped make this mission possible. 🇬🇭🫶🏼

05/09/2026

Clinical work continued this week with wards full of patients recovering from surgery. To date, the team has completed more than 35 operations (and still counting), with patients recovering well as surgical systems and communication across teams continue to strengthen each day.

Alongside surgical care, education and skills training remain a central part of ISHI’s work. Stop the Bleed sessions were held in partnership with the Ghana National Fire Service Akuapem North department, where local firefighters were trained and certified in bleeding control techniques. Additional trainings also continued for hospital staff and security personnel focused on emergency response and critical care.

Across the wards and classrooms alike, the gratitude from patients, families, and local partners has been deeply felt by our volunteers and we feel honoured to once again be welcomed into this community.

05/03/2026

All volunteers have landed safely in Ghana for this week’s mission! 🇬🇭

Ahead of the surgical week, we’ve been getting oriented to the community we’re stepping into. We visited the district hospital, which just marked its first year, and delivered our first donations - baby kits for new mothers.

We also spent a cultural day outside of the clinical setting, this year at a local safari. Time to experience the environment, connect as a team, and recover from travel before the week ahead.

Stay tuned for updates on our surgical days throughout the week!

02/14/2026

Ghana Recruitment 🇬🇭

We’ll be returning from Apr 30 - May 10 and are looking for volunteers to join the team! If interested, please msg us directly.

12/20/2025

After the main team departs, a surgical resident and two nurses remain for follow-up clinic on Monday and Tuesday. This continuity of care is essential, allowing us to closely monitor recovery, identify complications early, and support safe healing. In addition to providing clinical care, we thoughtfully distribute remaining supplies to areas where they will be most useful and ensure local staff are trained to use the resources we leave behind.

In 2024, we began collaborating with the local team to support Saturday surgeries after the main body’s departure. Patients who arrived for a triage day, were screened by the ISHI team and selected as safe surgical candidates but could not be scheduled due to time constraints are given a second chance. Together, we share ownership and extend care beyond our initial time on the ground. ISHI covers surgical costs and provides excess supplies, while the KGH staff carries on through another demanding surgical day. Despite a full week of long hours, the local team remains eager to sustain the momentum. Through this partnership, 20 additional surgeries were completed this year.

The follow-up clinic went very smoothly, with only two no-show patients, resulting in an impressive 97% follow-up rate. We also completed one final “Stop the Bleed” class, training approximately 16 additional staff members. We even got to enjoy a bit of community fun by attending the Koinadugu District Athletic Association’s inaugural track and field meet as they prepare for their upcoming national competition on Boxing Day. The team gave us a warm welcome and thanked ISHI for all of our support.

This week demonstrated the power of partnership, continuity of care, and the lasting impact of our work on patients and the community.

12/17/2025

Before starting surgery on any patients, we first meet with the local Paramount Chief to receive a blessing to provide care to the people of the chiefdom. This traditional welcome includes an invitation to share in the cola nut, a symbol of respect, hospitality, and community in Sierra Leone.

While our surgical work is demanding, we also make space for cultural immersion and connection. Our volunteers dedicate their vacation time to serve on this mission, so finding a balance between meaningful work and rest is essential to making the experience truly rewarding.

At the beginning of our trip, we traveled to Kamakwie in the Karene District, the gateway to Outamba-Kilimi National Park. The team took a boat ride along the River Kilimi, experiencing local wildlife in its natural habitat, including a variety of bird species, monkeys, and even a family of hippopotamuses. Though the journey was long and the roads were rough, it was a beautiful way to experience Sierra Leone’s natural splendor.

Midway through the surgical week, once we found our rhythm, some team members had the opportunity to hike Wara Wara Mountain in Kabala, where sweeping views of the city await. The mountain holds special significance for the local community and is a beloved gathering place to welcome the New Year.

Throughout the week, our logistics team also incorporated team-building activities, including the ISHI Amazing Race scavenger hunt, plenty of Monopoly Deal (a mission staple), and Left Right Center, which doubles as a fundraiser to help sponsor local patients in need. Volunteers supported local artisans by purchasing region-specific goods such as honey, shea butter, custom clothing, handbags, and handcrafted carvings and jewelry, bringing a meaningful piece of Sierra Leone home to share with loved ones during the holiday season.

By investing in our team, we strengthen our capacity to serve effectively and sustainably. Every member, from logistics to surgeons, nurses, and anesthesia providers, is essential, and the mission could not succeed without each person’s dedication.

12/14/2025

Over the past week, International Surgical Health Initiative carried out our 10th mission to Kabala, Sierra Leone. This year, our team was small, just 14 volunteers, making every individual truly mission essential.

During the mission, our surgical team successfully performed 69 surgeries on 66 patients, including hernia repairs, hydrocelectomies, and mass excisions. Each case represented not only a procedure completed, but a life impacted through access to safe, timely surgical care.

In addition to time spent in the operating theater, education remained a central focus. A hybrid team of ISHI and local volunteers conducted Stop the Bleed training for over 120 participants at Kabala Government Hospital, NarSarah Clinic, Kabala Secondary School, and a local all-girls school. Stop the Bleed is a hands-on, lifesaving course that teaches immediate bleeding control techniques, such as direct pressure, wound packing, and tourniquet use. This empowers individuals to act in emergencies before advanced care is available. To promote sustainability, two local instructors were trained and supervised as they taught independently to ensure accuracy and confidence. Supplies were intentionally left behind so this education can continue beyond our presence.

Our nursing personnel also led an IV insertion and management course at the Kabala School of Comprehensive Nursing. Through didactic instruction, written assessments, and hands-on practical training, 72 future Maternal and Child Health nurses were trained in essential clinical skills they will carry forward into their careers.

As this phase of the mission concludes, the main body of the team has departed to return home, while a three-person follow-up team remains on the ground to ensure all patients are recovering well. This follow-through is an essential part of our commitment to ethical, responsible, and patient-centered care.

12/06/2025

We’ve Arrived! 🇸🇱

Our ISHI 2025 Sierra Leone mission team is officially assembled! This year we are a diverse mix of returning volunteers, first-timers, and team members rejoining after time away. Together we have traveled from more than half a dozen locations across the U.S. and Canada. We are grateful for the unique blend of backgrounds, experiences, and passions that unite us — a shared commitment to global health, the joy of working alongside like-minded partners, and the privilege of serving with some of the most welcoming hosts in the world.

Travel was not without its challenges. Lengthy delays in both Brussels and Newark tested our patience and stamina, but the team persevered. We arrived last night a few bags and boxes short, yet thanks to our local partners, a plan is already underway to retrieve them.

Today we began our journey north toward Kabala, with a special Cultural Day stop in Karene District — a region that is new to us and one we’re excited to learn from. After lunch in Makeni, we continued deeper into the bush. The roads became rougher, which slowed travel considerably, but the landscape was beautiful, and gaining a deeper understanding of where our patients come from kept spirits high.

Upon arrival in Kamakwie, we were welcomed with a warm and traditional cultural greeting from the local community. It set the perfect tone for the days ahead, reminding us why this work and these relationships matter so deeply. Tomorrow begins another full day of travel, learning, and connection as we continue our mission.

We’re here. We’re ready. And we’re grateful. 🇸🇱✨

11/27/2025

Towards the end of our Ghana mission, we met Daniel. He’s 32, and his untreated hernia had become so visible he lost work and faced deep stigma in his community. He’s been surviving on the generosity of a neighbor who shares meals with him when she can.

When the ISHI team returned to America, we ran a virtual Bingo fundraiser to cover his surgery so the local hospital could treat him in our absence.

This week, Daniel got his surgery. He’s recovering well and will soon be able to return home.

Thank you to the local team at TQMH for the partnership. 🙏

10/27/2025

🚨OR, PACU & Floor Nurses 🚨

We’ll be back in Sierra Leone from December 3-13 and are still actively looking for OR, PACU and a floor nurses to join the team! If interested, please msg us directly. 🇸🇱

10/23/2025

🚨 UPCOMING MISSION 🚨

Sierra Leone 2025 🇸🇱 Looking for nurses 👀

Address

35 Hudson Street, Ste 3512
Jersey City, NJ
07302

Telephone

+15516893632

Website

http://ishiglobal.org/

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