Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has commissioned an expanded dialysis unit at the Upper West Regional Hospital in Wa, in a major boost to specialist kidney care in the region.
The facility, estimated at GH¢4 million, adds six dialysis machines, ancillary equipment and staff training support to the hospital’s existing capacity.
The project was undertaken through a partnership involving Sustainable Health Education and Interventions Limited (SHEILD), the Upper West Parliamentary Caucus, the Ministry of Health, the Ghana Health Service and other development partners.
The expanded unit is expected to serve patients from the Upper West Region as well as neighbouring parts of the Upper East, Savannah, North East and Bono regions and communities along Ghana’s northern corridor.
Commissioning the facility on Tuesday, August 4, Rt. Hon. Bagbin described the project as an important investment in healthcare equity and social justice.
He stressed the need for residents of the Upper West Region to have access to quality healthcare regardless of their geographical location, while commending SHEILD and the other partners for their contribution to the project.
The expansion is expected to reduce the burden on kidney patients who previously had to travel long distances to major cities to access dialysis services, often at considerable financial and emotional cost.
Board Director of SHEILD, Dr. Sylvie Anie CSci CCHEM FRSM FRSC, said the project represented more than additional equipment and infrastructure, describing it as a source of hope for patients and families facing challenges in accessing specialised kidney care.
She reaffirmed SHEILD’s commitment to health education, healthcare systems strengthening and sustainable interventions aimed at improving public health outcomes.
Another SHEILD Board Director, specialist surgeon Dr. John Nkrumah Mills, said the project demonstrated the impact strategic partnerships could have on healthcare delivery.
He emphasised the need for sustained investment in healthcare professionals, systems, partnerships and continuous capacity building.
The Medical Director of the Upper West Regional Hospital, Dr. (Med.) Philip K. K. Baabiineh, welcomed the expansion, saying it would significantly improve the hospital’s capacity to provide comprehensive renal care.
He said the additional dialysis capacity would reduce the distances patients have to travel while enabling the hospital to provide more timely and quality care.
Dr. Baabiineh also reaffirmed the hospital’s commitment to staff training, equipment maintenance and continuous quality improvement to ensure the sustainability of the service.
The commissioning ceremony brought together government officials, traditional leaders, Members of Parliament, development partners, healthcare professionals, private-sector representatives, civil society organisations and community representatives.
The expanded dialysis unit marks a significant milestone in specialist healthcare delivery in the Upper West Region and is expected to bring essential renal services closer to patients who previously travelled outside the region for treatment.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
