About Us / Project History

Creating the new Centre
With generous help from Scottish sources, the Ghanaian and Japanese Governments, and many others, the IRPS established a 73 bed Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Burns Centre that opened in 1997.

It cost £450,000 to construct the Unit. Almost all the equipment for the 8 wards and twin theatre suite (worth £180,000) was donated by hospitals in the West of Scotland and transported and shipped free of charge to Ghana.

Nurses Hostel
A major success was recorded in 2001 with the opening of a nurses accommodation hostel in Korle-Bu hospital. The £150,000 was raised entirely in Scotland. It's opening permitted the employment of a full complement of nurses during 2003 and enabled the whole unit, particularly the nurse intensive Burns Wing, to become fully operational. Today the hostel is fully occupied by nurses working in the unit.

Patients Assistance Fund
The Ghana Patients Assistance Fund raised its target of £100,000 in Scotland to provide needy patients with the surgical materials that have to be purchased before their operations can proceed.

Recognition
Jack Mustarde's outstanding efforts changed the face of reconstructive plastic surgery in Ghana and he was decorated by President Rawlings in 1997 in recognition of his achievements.

Training & Equipment
The emphasis is on training and equipment; intensively training selected Ghanaian doctors in UK; training doctors, anaesthetists, therapists and nurses in Ghana through annual visits by specialist volunteer teams; providing vital new medical equipment and other material surplus to NHS requirements.

Fundraising
Between 2000 and 2007 the IRPS received £ 1,500,000 in financial awards and free goods and services.