We had the opportunity to attend the Global Interdependence Center's conference in Accra, Ghana in partnership with Sanford Health, the largest rural healthcare provider in the US, with headquarters in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Sanford Health is a not-for-profit system that operates over 37 hospitals, clinics, and services in the North Dakota, South Dakota, western Minnesota, northwest Iowa, and northeast Nebraska geographical area. Sanford Health has also launched its Sanford World Clinics effort, to provide primary-care services in multiple locations around the globe.

Issues of health and wellness can be profound and truly impactful to individuals and nations. The conference was specifically focused on the issue of providing a sustainable model for permanent healthcare infrastructure. The intent of the organizers and the participants was to discuss specific and real methods for alleviating human suffering, to improve the human condition, and to do good in the world. Featured speakers at the conference included representatives from the Ghana Ministry of Health (www.moh-ghana.org), the Ghana National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS – www.nhis.gov.gh), the Women’s World Health Initiative (WWHI – focuses on maternal health, with emphasis in Senegal; www.wwhi.org), USAID in Ghana (http://ghana.usaid.gov), DocuTap (a provider of electronic medical records (www.docutap.com), and Sanford Health (www.sanfordhealth.org). Attendees included GIC members, American Chamber of Commerce in Ghana personnel, local business owners, church officials, and other Ghanaian citizens and organizations interested in healthcare issues. We encourage readers to explore these organizations’ websites to see the interesting and varied work they do.

The dialogue was vigorous as various approaches and topics were explored. It was clear that a need exists to regularly convene such dialogues among the stakeholders, both regionally and beyond. [Continued…]