The Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital in Mampong has launched its first-ever dialysis centre, marking a critical milestone in the fight against chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the Eastern Region.
This landmark achievement, unveiled on Friday, 2 May 2025, is the result of a robust multi-sector collaboration led by local NGO Sustainable Health Education and Interventions for Livelihood Development (SHEILD), with support from Enterprise Group PLC, Volta River Authority (VRA), National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Kalmoni Foundation, Revna Biosciences, and private donors.
Ghana faces a rising tide of CKD cases, with an estimated 300,000 patients affected nationwide. Yet fewer than 400 dialysis machines are available across the country—most clustered in just nine of the sixteen regions—leaving thousands to travel long distances or forego treatment entirely. The result: over 4,000 preventable deaths each year.
The new GHS 5.8 million dialysis facility at Tetteh Quarshie Hospital comes equipped with four advanced dialysis machines, alongside a comprehensive treatment suite including dialysers, anticoagulant pumps, monitors, and a water purification system. Enterprise Group PLC further supported the construction of a dedicated out-house and waiting area for patients.
SHEILD also launched a dedicated Dialysis Fund aimed at assisting economically disadvantaged patients, given the high cost of treatment.
Speaking at the inauguration, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin affirmed health as a universal right and called for deeper policy commitments to equitable healthcare. Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh echoed the urgency, stressing the need for a sustainable funding model for renal care and praising SHEILD’s leadership.
“This initiative shows how civil society and the private sector can come together to fill vital gaps,” said Akuapem North MP Samuel Awuku. “It’s a bold first step toward better kidney care for our people.”
Medical Superintendent Dr. Kofi Ablorh highlighted the immediate impact: “Patients will no longer endure long, expensive trips to Accra or Kumasi for dialysis. This centre will save lives and ease suffering.”
Chairman of SHEILD, Mr. Godfried Nyante, commended all contributors, stating, “This journey was made possible by a shared sense of responsibility and vision.”
Dr. Sylvia Anie, a SHEILD board member, emphasized the long-term mission: “Our goal is simple—equity in access to lifesaving healthcare. This must become the standard, not the exception.”
With this facility now operational, Eastern Region joins a growing network of health institutions bringing critical renal treatment closer to home.
