The Upper West Regional Hospital in Wa marked a historic milestone today, with the official commissioning of its expanded Dialysis Unit. The Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament, spearheaded the initiative by donating six state-of-the-art dialysis machines and recliners through the Ghanaian-founded NGO, Sustainable Health Education and Interventions Limited (SHEILD).

Speaking at the ceremony, the Speaker, who is a son of the region, emphasized that healthcare is a fundamental right and not a privilege for those in major cities, noting that the investment is a direct response to the immense financial and psychological hardships families have endured traveling long distances for treatment.

This expansion marks a personal victory for the Speaker, who recalled the painful reality of having to airlift patients from the region to Accra for dialysis, some of whom tragically lost their lives. He was joined by the Upper West Parliamentary Caucus and lauded the collaborative efforts of SHEILD, hospital management led by Dr. Philip Baabiineh, and the dedicated dialysis team under Dr. Abednego Attoh.

“This is not a political gesture. It is an act of service,” Speaker Bagbin stated, adding that a person’s location should never determine their access to life-saving treatment, while urging the hospital management to maintain the equipment and promising further support for staff capacity building.

The new equipment is expected to significantly ease the burden on the facility’s dedicated health workers and expand access to critical kidney care for residents of the Upper West Region and beyond. The commissioned unit stands as a symbol of hope and a testament to what can be achieved when leadership is matched with action.
Management and staff have been encouraged to follow up with the Speaker’s office to ensure the facility is utilized to its full potential, ensuring that the people of the region can thrive without being disadvantaged by geography.

Source: Parliament of Ghana