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The Upper West Regional Hospital has performed 4,916 dialysis sessions for 268 patients since establishing its dialysis unit in 2022, significantly improving access to life-saving renal care in the Upper West Region.
The service has spared patients the burden of travelling long distances to other parts of the country to access dialysis treatment.
Dr Philip Baabineh, Acting Medical Director of the Upper West Regional Hospital, disclosed this on Tuesday August 4, at the commissioning of an expanded dialysis unit at the facility in Wa.
The expansion involved the installation of six additional dialysis machines at a cost of about GH¢4 million, increasing the hospital’s dialysis capacity from three machines to nine.
The project was facilitated by the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, in partnership with the Upper West Regional Parliamentary Caucus and implemented by Sustainable Health Education and Interventions Limited (SHEILD), a non-governmental organisation.
Dr Baabineh explained that the hospital commenced dialysis services in 2022 with a single donated machine before management procured two additional machines in 2023 in response to increasing demand.
He said each dialysis session transcended a medical procedure to “another baby celebrated, another child returning to school, another parent returning home and another family given hope.”
Despite the gains made, Dr Baabineh noted that demand for dialysis services continued to exceed the hospital’s capacity, necessitating the expansion of the unit.
He described the commissioning of the expanded facility as a major milestone that would restore hope to patients and families who depend on dialysis treatment for survival and commended the partners for supporting the project.
Professor Emmanuel K. Derbile, Vice-Chancellor of the University for Business and Integrated Development Studies (UBIDS), said the initiative demonstrated how leadership, collaboration and generosity could improve the quality of life of the people.
He said the project marked a new era of hope for residents of the region by bringing life-saving renal care closer to them while contributing to Ghana’s national healthcare aspirations.
Prof Derbile, who chaired the ceremony, said the expanded dialysis facility would also support UBIDS’ plans to operationalise its School of Medicine and Health Sciences in collaboration with the Upper West Regional Hospital.
According to him, the upgraded facility would provide a strong foundation for the clinical training of medical students and other health professionals.
Dr Josephat Nyuzaghl, Upper West Regional Director of Health Services, described the commissioning of the expanded dialysis unit as timely, given the rising burden of kidney diseases in Ghana.
He noted that kidney disease had become a major public health concern due to factors such as uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes and infections.
Dr Nyuzaghl said the Upper West Regional Hospital remained the only health facility in the region providing dialysis services.
He, therefore, called for the establishment of dialysis units at the Nandom, Tumu and Wa Municipal hospitals to further improve access to renal care across the region.
Source: GNA