Speaker Bagbin, SHEILD Commission GH¢4 Million Expanded Dialysis Unit in Upper West

Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has partnered with Sustainable Health Education and Interventions Limited (SHEILD) to commission an expanded dialysis unit worth an estimated GH¢4 million at the Upper West Regional Hospital in Wa.

The project, undertaken in collaboration with the Upper West Parliamentary Caucus, the Ministry of Health, the Ghana Health Service, and other development partners, aims to improve access to life-saving kidney care for thousands of people in northern Ghana.

The expanded facility, inaugurated on Tuesday, August 4, is equipped with six new dialysis machines, ancillary equipment and staff training support to strengthen the hospital’s renal care services. It is expected to serve patients from the Upper West, Upper East, Savannah, North East and Bono regions, reducing the need for long-distance travel to access treatment.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Speaker Bagbin described the project as an important investment in healthcare 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. Today’s commissioning is one important step towards that vision, but it must also inspire us to do even more,” he said.

The Speaker commended SHEILD and its partners for their commitment to improving specialist healthcare delivery and called for continued collaboration to strengthen health services nationwide.
According to the Parliamentary Service, chronic kidney disease has become a growing public health challenge in Ghana, claiming more than 4,000 lives annually, while the country has fewer than 500 dialysis machines to serve its population. Patients often spend between GH¢1,200 and GH¢3,000 for three dialysis sessions each week, making treatment inaccessible for many.
Board Director of SHEILD, Dr. Sylvie Anie CSci CCHEM FRSM FRSC, said the expanded dialysis unit represents hope for patients who have struggled for years to access specialised kidney care.
“Our vision is to ensure that quality healthcare becomes more accessible, more equitable and more sustainable for every Ghanaian,” she stated.

Another SHEILD Board Director and specialist surgeon, Dr John Nkrumah Mills, noted that the project demonstrates the impact of strategic partnerships in transforming healthcare delivery through sustained investment in people, systems and capacity building.

Medical Director of the Upper West Regional Hospital, Dr. (Med.) Philip K. K. Baabiinieh, said the expansion would significantly improve the hospital’s ability to provide timely and high-quality renal care while reducing the burden on patients and their families.
Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, also welcomed the initiative, describing it as consistent with government’s commitment to expanding specialist healthcare infrastructure and reducing regional disparities in access to treatment.

The commissioning ceremony brought together government officials, Members of Parliament, traditional leaders, healthcare professionals, development partners and civil society organisations, all reaffirming their commitment to improving access to quality healthcare in northern Ghana.