Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has commissioned an expanded dialysis unit valued at an estimated GH¢4 million at the Upper West Regional Hospital in Wa, in a move aimed at improving access to life-saving kidney care for patients across northern Ghana.
The project, inaugurated on Tuesday, August 4, was undertaken in partnership with 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 facility is equipped with six new dialysis machines, ancillary medical equipment and staff training support, significantly increasing the hospital’s capacity to provide renal care.
It is expected to serve patients from the Upper West, Upper East, Savannah, North East and Bono regions, as well as other parts of northern Ghana.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Speaker Bagbin described the project as a major step towards achieving equitable healthcare and ensuring that residents of northern Ghana have access to specialist medical services closer to home.
He said the investment was intended to restore hope to patients battling kidney disease and reduce the hardships faced by families forced to travel long distances for treatment.
“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 said.
According to the Parliamentary Service, the dialysis unit forms part of Speaker Bagbin’s commitment to improving healthcare delivery in the Upper West Region while supporting broader efforts to decentralise specialist renal services across the country.
The initiative comes at a time when chronic kidney disease continues to pose a growing public health challenge in Ghana.
The Parliamentary Service said more than 4,000 people die annually from kidney-related illnesses, while fewer than 500 dialysis machines are available nationwide.
It noted that treatment remains expensive, with patients requiring between GH¢1,200 and GH¢3,000 for three dialysis sessions each week.
Many patients in northern Ghana have historically travelled to Accra or Kumasi to access treatment, incurring significant transportation costs and enduring long waiting times.
Board Director of SHEILD, Dr. Sylvie Anie, said the expanded facility represents more than additional equipment, describing it as a symbol of hope for patients who have struggled to access specialised kidney care.
She said the organisation remains committed to supporting sustainable healthcare interventions that improve access to quality medical services and strengthen Ghana’s health system.
Another Board Director of SHEILD, specialist surgeon Dr. John Nkrumah Mills, said the project demonstrated the impact of strategic partnerships in transforming healthcare delivery.
He stressed that sustainable healthcare requires continued investment in people, infrastructure, partnerships and capacity building to improve patient outcomes.
Medical Director of the Upper West Regional Hospital, Dr. Philip K. K. Baabiineh, welcomed the expansion, saying it would significantly improve the hospital’s ability to provide timely, high-quality renal care while easing the burden on patients and their families.
He added that the hospital would continue investing in staff development, equipment maintenance and quality improvement to ensure the sustainability of the service.
Minister for Health Kwabena Mintah Akandoh also praised the initiative, saying it aligns with the government’s commitment to expanding specialist healthcare services and reducing regional disparities in access to treatment.
He called for stronger collaboration between government, private organisations, development partners and healthcare institutions to address the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases.
The commissioning ceremony was attended by government officials, Members of Parliament, traditional leaders, healthcare professionals, development partners, civil society organisations and community representatives.
CREDIT: MAVIS FANTEVI