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| inside the dialysis unit |
After almost 15 years of its existence, the Volta Regional hospital in Ho has finally gotten a dialysis unit to cater for patients with kidney problems.
Kidney patients in need of dialysis services hitherto have to travel to Accra every week for the service due to the absence of that unit at the regional hospital, which is the major referral health facility in the entire region.
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| Dialysis machine |
A dialysis machine is thought of as an artificial kidney which filter a patient’s blood to remove excess water and waste products when the kidneys are damaged, dysfunctional, or missing.
A campaign launched by the Asogli queen mothers Association to get such a machine at the hospital, had a favorable response from D.Med Healthcare AG Limited, a leading provider of medical equipment and consumables, which donated four dialysis machines to the hospital at a cost of GHc 200,000.
Also, indigenous oil marketing company, GOIL Energy Ghana procured a GHc 28,000 water treatment plant for the unit to enable the machines function.
Speaking at a ceremony to commission the unit, the coordinator of Asogli queen mothers Association,
Mama Atratoh II, the challenges kidney patients in region go through weekly to access the treatment elsewhere with its associated cost and risk prompted her outfit to embark on this initiative.
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| Mama Atratoh |
“We have been dreaming to get this machine in the region, until one Harry Sedor of D.Med came to tell us they will give us four dialysis machines but we needed a water treatment plant for the machines to function. Gratefully, we approached GOIL Ghana and they accepted and got plant for installed,” she stated
She went on further, saying “ with this centre here, we can reduce the high risk and cost associated with traveling to Accra and elsewhere to seek treatment.”
Medical director of the hospital, Dr. John Tampore, said the facility is expanding and the demand for dialysis services in the region has been on the rise. He noted that about nine patients in need of dialysis service are referred to Accra every month due to the absence of the unit.
He therefore assured that the installation of the equipment will bring relief to kidney patients and save them the cost and risk of traveling to Accra weekly for treatment.
Dr. Joseph Teye Nuertey, the volta regional director of health services lauded the initiative of the Asogli queen mothers and called for more of such collaborations between stakeholders to improve healthcare delivery in the region.
The Volta regional minister, Helen Adjoa Ntoso who commissioned the dialysis unit, urged the hospital management to cultivate the culture of maintenance to elongate the lifespan of the equipment.
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| A patient using the machine |
Source: Voltaonlinegh/LA
