President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo commissioned the country’s largest Urology and Nephrology Centre at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in Accra on October 18, 2024.
The €38 million state-of-the-art facility, the biggest of its kind aims to bolster healthcare services, particularly in the treatment of urologic and nephrologic diseases.
Speaking at the ceremony, the president emphasised the significance of the facility in addressing the rising number of urological cases, particularly among men over 40.
“This centre is a game-changer in providing urologic healthcare services…
“This modern facility will provide advanced treatments for patients with chronic and acute kidney failures, as well as other urological conditions.
“The Centre is also positioned to offer life-saving services such as kidney transplants, helping to fulfill our national objective of achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
“The Centre will put Ghana on the map for medical tourism, providing services to patients from neighbouring countries and beyond. This will generate additional revenue for the facility, ensuring sustainability and continued expansion of services,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo highlighted the progress of Agenda 111, noting that eight district hospitals are nearly completed, while the overall progress of the project stands at 69% as of September 2024.
He expressed confidence that several of the facilities currently at over 90% completion would be finished before the end of the year.
“I call on the management of the Urology and Nephrology Centre of Excellence to adopt a robust preventive maintenance strategy to ensure the longevity and effectiveness of this facility,” he added.
The new Urology and Nephrology Centre is equipped with cutting-edge technology and medical resources.
It boasts a 31-bed dialysis station catering to patients with chronic kidney conditions and a 70-bed capacity for genito-urinary patients.
The facility also features multiple units, including outpatient services, diagnostic and treatment areas, inpatient services, administration, and a dedicated training room.
A management and technology center has also been incorporated into the design, enhancing the center’s operational efficiency.
In addition to treating patients, the centre will serve as a hub for conducting research into urological and nephrological conditions.
Professor James E. Mensah, Head of the Urology Unit at KBTH, highlighted the need for further investment in training urologists.
Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye, Minister of Health, expressed optimism that the centre would improve the management of urologic emergencies and nephrology cases.
He noted that the facility is designed to handle a wide array of conditions, including prostate and bladder cancers, kidney failures, and bladder prolapse. Chronic kidney disease patients will have access to advanced dialysis and kidney transplant services.
Source: www.ghanaweb.com
