Dialysis patients in Ghana’s Bono Region can finally breathe a sigh of relief following the donation of two dialysis machines to the Sunyani Teaching Hospital by the Ghana Medical Trust Fund.
The life-saving equipment is expected to significantly improve access to dialysis treatment, particularly for patients suffering from infectious diseases alongside kidney complications.
Until now, the hospital relied on only three dialysis machines, which were largely inaccessible to patients with infectious conditions. As a result, many critically ill patients were compelled to undertake exhausting journeys, often twice a week to other facilities such as Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital or to hospitals in Berekum in search of dialysis care.
For many, the trips meant struggling to raise transport fares despite their already fragile health conditions.
Administrator of the Fund, Adjoa Obuobia Darko-Opoku, said the intervention reflects the core purpose of the Trust Fund; to remove barriers that prevent Ghanaians from accessing critical healthcare.
“The Ghana Medical Trust Fund has been christened Mahama Cares because truly, Mahama cares,” she said. “The moment we were briefed about the situation here, we moved swiftly to find a solution, with support from HealthTeach Ghana which donated some dialysis machines to the Fund.”
She noted that the donation is only the beginning of several interventions the Fund is rolling out to ease the burden of chronic non-communicable diseases across the country.
“We will return to do more. We have studied your needs assessment report and are taking steps to help make this Teaching Hospital truly worthy of its name,” she assured the hospital management.
Chief Executive Officer of the hospital, Dr. Cardinal Newton, described the donation as a timely and life-saving intervention.
“I am happy we now have machines dedicated to patients with infectious diseases. They will no longer have to travel long distances and spend scarce resources on transportation while battling illness,” he said.
Dr. Newton expressed optimism that the additional machines will greatly expand the hospital’s capacity to treat renal patients.
“If we have been able to treat many patients with our three older machines, you can only imagine what we can do with these brand-new ones,” he added.
The Bono Regional Minister Joseph Addae Akwaboa, who received the machines on behalf of the region, commended the Fund for fulfilling its promise after earlier assessing the hospital’s needs.
“Since you started work, one thing I have observed is that when you promise, you deliver,” he said. “You came, assessed the situation, and promised to return with support and today you have made us smile.”
He also expressed gratitude to President John Mahama for conceiving the Mahama Cares initiative, noting that its impact is already being felt in communities.
Hon. Addae Akwaboa said the intervention would not only save lives but also restore hope to patients and families battling kidney disease across the Bono Region.
With the arrival of the new dialysis machines, the Sunyani Teaching Hospital is expected to expand treatment capacity, ensuring that more patients can access life-saving renal care closer to home.
