By Daniel Bampoe
More than six decades after its establishment in 1961, the Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital in Mampong has crossed a historic medical threshold, performing its first-ever dialysis procedure and formally entering the space of specialist renal healthcare delivery in Ghana.
The milestone marks a major transformation for one of the Eastern Region’s oldest public health facilities, long known for primary and general healthcare services rather than advanced specialist treatment.
The breakthrough dialysis session was carried out on January 3, 2026, on a 47-year-old female patient at the hospital’s newly commissioned Dialysis Centre.
The procedure was conducted by a 10-member renal care team led by Specialist in Internal Medicine, Dr Christabel Owusu, marking the first time in the hospital’s 64-year history that a patient received dialysis treatment on-site.
Hospital authorities described the moment as both historic and emotional, noting that the development represents the fulfilment of a long-standing institutional vision to expand the scope of services beyond basic care and referrals.
For decades, the hospital had served as a referral point for patients requiring specialised treatment, particularly those suffering from kidney-related complications.
Long-Standing Referral Burden On Kidney Patients
Until the establishment of the dialysis centre, patients diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD) or acute renal failure within the hospital’s catchment areas in Mampong and surrounding communities were routinely referred to tertiary hospitals in Accra and other major urban centres.
This referral system imposed heavy financial, emotional and physical burdens on patients and their families, many of whom were forced to travel several times a week over long distances to access life-saving dialysis services.
National health data underscores the scale of the crisis. Chronic kidney disease is estimated to claim over 4,000 lives annually in Ghana, while fewer than 400 dialysis machines are available nationwide.
These machines are concentrated in only nine of the country’s 16 regions, leaving large sections of the population without local access to renal care. For many patients, distance, cost and limited availability of machines have meant delayed treatment or complete lack of access to dialysis.
The Project That Changed The Hospital’s Trajectory
The transformation of Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital into a dialysis-providing facility was driven by a GH₵5.8 million multi-sector partnership initiative led by Sustainable Health Education and Interventions (SHEILD).
The project brought together both corporate institutions and individual philanthropists in one of the most coordinated healthcare interventions in the hospital’s history.
Key partners included Enterprise Group PLC, the Volta River Authority (VRA), the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), the Kalmoni Foundation, Revna Biosciences and several other private supporters. High-profile contributors also included Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin, former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, MP for Tamale South Haruna Iddrisu, MP for North Tongu Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP for Akuapim North Sammi Awuku, and the Paramount Chief of the Nandom Traditional Area, Naa Professor Edmund Nminyem Delle Chiir VIII.
The project involved the renovation of a dedicated ward within the hospital, installation of four modern dialysis machines, establishment of water treatment systems, provision of biomedical equipment and consumables, and the training of nurses and technicians in renal care delivery. Safety protocols, infection prevention systems and standard operating procedures were developed in line with national health guidelines, with technical support from the Ghana Health Service (GHS).
The Dialysis Centre was officially unveiled in May 2025 by Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, formally integrating the facility into the growing renal healthcare infrastructure. The Tetteh Quarshie centre also became the second dialysis facility spearheaded by SHEILD, following the earlier establishment of the Police Hospital Dialysis Centre in Accra.
Institutional Response And Renewed Mission
Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Kofi Ablorh, described the project as a defining moment in the institution’s development. He expressed appreciation to SHEILD and its partners, noting that the centre has significantly strengthened the hospital’s ability to provide life-saving care.
According to Dr Ablorh, the hospital is now positioned to move beyond referrals and become a treatment destination for kidney patients within the Eastern Region.
He further stated that management is committed to sustaining and expanding the dialysis service as part of a broader strategy to improve healthcare outcomes in the region.
Board Director of SHEILD and former President of the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, Dr John Nkrumah Mills, also highlighted the broader national significance of the development, describing it as a major relief for patients who require long-term dialysis and for those suffering from acute kidney failure, including pregnancy-related complications.
He noted that timely access to dialysis often leads to full recovery for patients with acute renal failure, stressing that the new centre could reverse years of preventable deaths linked to delayed treatment and poor access to renal services.
Community Mobilisation And Sustainability Challenge
Board Director of SHEILD, Dr Sylvia J. Anie, emphasised the role of community mobilisation, corporate commitment and traditional leadership in bringing the project to completion, describing the fundraising process as long and challenging.
She acknowledged the support of Akuapem traditional leaders and partner institutions, but also warned of the high operational costs associated with dialysis services.
Dr Anie therefore called for the creation and support of an operational Dialysis Fund to assist vulnerable and marginalised patients who may not be able to afford regular treatment.
