For many families in Nandom and surrounding communities, kidney disease is no longer a distant health issue discussed in hospitals and medical reports. It has become a painful reality stealing away breadwinners, young adults, mothers and even children.
In 2025 alone, St. Theresa Catholic Hospital in Nandom managed more than 120 patients with kidney-related conditions. Sadly, about 27 people lost their lives — many because they could not access life-saving dialysis treatment in time.
Across the Upper West Region, which has a population of over one million people, there is currently only one dialysis center located at the Upper West Regional Hospital in Wa.
For patients in the Nandom-Lambussie enclave, seeking dialysis often means enduring a nearly three-hour journey on difficult roads while battling severe pain, weakness and uncertainty. Families are forced to spend huge amounts on transportation, accommodation and treatment, while some patients become too weak to even make the trip.
Health officials estimate that between 30 and 40 percent of dialysis patients at the Upper West Regional Hospital come from the Nandom-Lambussie enclave alone.
The growing burden of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is becoming increasingly alarming, especially as more teenagers, young adults, pregnant women and children are being affected.
For some patients suffering from Acute Kidney Injury, only a few dialysis sessions are needed to save their lives and restore their health. But without timely access to treatment, many deteriorate rapidly, with some progressing into chronic kidney disease while others die waiting for care.
Behind every statistic is a grieving family.
Families have watched loved ones grow weaker by the day simply because dialysis services are too far away or too expensive to access quickly. Some relatives reportedly spend days moving between hospitals, desperately searching for support while racing against time.
It is this heartbreaking reality that has inspired a major intervention by Ghana Medical Help (GMH), a health-focused NGO committed to improving healthcare delivery in northern Ghana through training, equipment and mentorship.
In a move already bringing hope to many families, Ghana Medical Help is donating three new dialysis machines to St. Theresa Catholic Hospital and supporting efforts to establish an ultra-modern dialysis center at the facility.
A joint team from Ghana Medical Help and technical experts has already visited the hospital to begin preparations towards making the dream a reality.
For residents across Nandom, Lambussie and nearby communities, the proposed dialysis center represents more than a health project — it represents hope, survival and a second chance at life.
However, hospital authorities say achieving this vision will require collective support.
St. Theresa Catholic Hospital is therefore appealing to individuals, organizations, philanthropists and well-wishers to support the initiative through financial contributions or in-kind donations to help establish the dialysis center and save lives.
The hospital expressed profound gratitude to Dominic Akaateba, Co-Founder and Country Director of Ghana Medical Help, and the entire GMH team for their commitment and generosity towards the people of northern Ghana.
Special appreciation was also extended to Rear Admiral Godwin Livinus Bessing, Prof. Luke Anglaa-ere, Nandom Youngsters Club – Kumasi and an anonymous donor.
As kidney disease cases continue to rise, many residents believe the establishment of a dialysis center in Nandom could mean the difference between life and death for countless families across the enclave.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
