Tamale: The Minister for Education and Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu, has commissioned a new dialysis unit at Aisha Hospital in Tamale. The facility also announced the delivery of its first baby through in-vitro fertilisation (IVF).
According to Ghana Web, the two developments were announced at a ceremony in Tamale under the theme, 'A Celebration of Hope, Healing and New Beginnings.' The new dialysis unit is the hospital's latest specialist service, expected to offer an alternative for patients in Northern Ghana who previously had to travel to other parts of the country for treatment. Dialysis patients often require treatment several times a week, making local access vital for their quality of life.
Speaking at the ceremony, Iddrisu commended the management of Aisha Hospital for investing in specialist healthcare services in the Northern Region. He noted that expanding specialist medical services in the area would help reduce the need for patients to travel to Accra and other southern cities for treatment.
The hospital also announced the successful delivery of its first IVF baby, following the establishment of what it describes as Northern Ghana's first international-standard IVF centre. This development is set to provide fertility treatment closer to couples in the northern part of the country who would otherwise have to travel south for such services.
Aisha Hospital established the IVF centre in partnership with specialists from Accra, while its dialysis services are supported by renal specialists from India. Established in October 2023 as a 92-bed facility, Aisha Hospital also provides specialist services in areas including ophthalmology. The facility plans to commission oncology and cancer care services by the end of 2026 and aims to expand its capacity to 250 beds by 2027, including increasing the number of beds in its VIP ward to 50.
The Founder and Chairman of Aisha Hospital, Chief Dr Doli-Wura Zakaria, stated the new services were intended to improve access to specialist healthcare in Northern Ghana. 'What we celebrate today is not merely the opening of new medical services. It is the restoration of hope to families, the preservation of lives and a reaffirmation that our people deserve access to world-class specialist healthcare,' he said.
He expressed appreciation to the hospital's board, management, staff, medical partners, and patients. 'The true measure of a hospital is the number of lives it touches and the hope it restores,' he added.
The hospital announced its intention to establish more than 30 specialist healthcare centres by 2030, with plans to serve patients from Ghana and other countries. The expansion could create more than 2,500 jobs.