Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has partnered with Sustainable Health Education and Interventions Limited (SHEILD) to commission a GH₵4 million expanded dialysis unit at the Upper West Regional Hospital, a milestone aimed at decentralising specialist renal healthcare and easing the burden on patients in northern Ghana.
The new facility, equipped with six dialysis machines, ancillary equipment and staff training support, is expected to serve thousands of patients across the Upper West Region and neighbouring areas. Chronic kidney disease claims over 4,000 lives annually in Ghana, yet fewer than 500 dialysis machines serve the entire country, leaving many patients to travel long distances under difficult circumstances.
Dr. (Med.) Philip K. K. Baabineh, Medical Director of the hospital, said the expansion would “significantly enhance the hospital’s ability to provide comprehensive renal care,” reducing the financial and emotional strain on families. He pledged continued investment in staff training and quality improvement to ensure sustainable service delivery.
Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh described the project as consistent with government’s commitment to strengthening healthcare infrastructure and reducing regional disparities. “Partnerships such as this complement national efforts to improve healthcare delivery and demonstrate the important role collaboration plays in building a resilient health system,” he said.
Speaker Bagbin framed the initiative as a matter of equity and social justice. “The people of the Upper West deserve to live with dignity. We deserve access to quality healthcare. We deserve opportunities to thrive without being disadvantaged by geography,” he declared at the commissioning ceremony, urging further collaboration to expand specialist services nationwide.
Board Directors of SHEILD, Dr. Sylvie Anie and Dr. John Nkrumah Mills, emphasised that the project represents hope for patients and a model of sustainable healthcare investment. “This facility demonstrates what is possible when partners unite around a shared vision of improving patient outcomes and strengthening our national health system,” Dr. Mills noted.
The commissioning brought together government officials, traditional leaders, Members of Parliament, healthcare professionals, civil society organisations and community representatives, united by a shared commitment to improving healthcare access in northern Ghana.
Leave a Reply