A GNA Feature by Godfred Aaneamenga Polkuu
Bolgatanga, July 3, GNA – For nearly eight decades, the Upper East Regional Hospital in Bolgatanga has been more than a healthcare facility. It has been a trusted partner to families across the region, accompanying communities through generations with care, compassion and hope.
Today, the hospital is building on that legacy through research, innovation and evidence-based medicine to ensure that every patient receives safer, faster and more effective care. Grounded in science and driven by compassion, it is demonstrating that quality healthcare extends beyond treating illness to continually finding better ways to improve lives.
A legacy of service
Healthcare delivery at the present site of the Upper East Regional Hospital dates back to 1946, when a health centre was established to serve the minority white population and a small number of Gold Coasters employed by the British colonial administration.
Although services initially catered mainly for expatriates, access gradually expanded as more local communities benefited from orthodox medical care. The facility steadily grew in size and responsibility, with a small team comprising a physician assistant, two nurses and two health assistants providing essential healthcare services.
As more expatriate health professionals arrived and increasing numbers of Ghanaians received medical and nursing training abroad, local participation in healthcare delivery expanded. However, the health centre remained under expatriate leadership until 1955, when the first Ghanaian doctor, Dr Johnson, assumed responsibility for the facility. Following his death in 1961, he was succeeded by Dr Gandaa.
Over the years, the institution evolved into the Upper East Regional Hospital, becoming the region’s premier referral facility. Today, it serves patients from all 15 municipalities and districts in the Upper East Region, neighbouring parts of the North East Region, and communities in Burkina Faso.
Putting patients at the centre of care
With a bed capacity of 265 and a workforce of 679, the hospital is strengthening its commitment to world-class healthcare by placing patients at the centre of every service it provides.
Under the leadership of the Medical Director, Dr Joseph Kojo Tambil, the hospital is integrating cutting-edge medical research into everyday clinical practice. The goal extends beyond treating illness to continuously improving healthcare delivery through scientific evidence and locally generated solutions.
Driven by compassion, guided by science
At the heart of this transformation is the hospital’s Research Department, headed by Mr Francis Kwaku Wuni. The department is implementing an ambitious programme to strengthen research capacity across all clinical and support units, ensuring that evidence informs every aspect of patient care.
Its guiding principle is simple but powerful: every clinical decision should be supported by the best available scientific evidence.
“Research helps us understand what works best for our patients. When we use proven evidence to guide our care, patients recover faster, remain safer and return home to their families sooner,” Mr Wuni said in an interview with the Ghana News Agency.
He explained that research was not confined to large-scale scientific studies but also informed everyday clinical decisions, from determining the appropriate time to replace medical equipment to identifying more effective strategies for preventing infections.
Home-grown solutions to local health challenges
Recognising that every community faces unique health challenges, the hospital has prioritised locally conducted research to generate solutions tailored to the needs of the people it serves.
One recent study conducted at the facility revealed an alarming 89.9 per cent resistance rate to the commonly prescribed antibiotic, ampicillin. Armed with that evidence, clinicians promptly revised treatment protocols, enabling them to prescribe more effective medications, reduce prolonged hospital admissions, improve patient outcomes and lessen the financial burden on families.
“Local evidence is invaluable because it reflects the realities of our own people. What works elsewhere may not necessarily be the best solution for our communities. We want to know exactly what works for our patients,” Mr Wuni said.
Three pillars of excellence
The hospital’s transformation is anchored on three strategic pillars:
Exceptional Clinical Care – Delivering compassionate, patient-centred healthcare that prioritises dignity, safety and comfort.
Continuous Learning and Professional Development – Equipping doctors, nurses and allied health professionals with the latest knowledge and skills to deliver the highest standards of care.
Groundbreaking Research – Generating local evidence and innovative solutions that improve healthcare today while shaping the treatments of tomorrow.
Strengthening communication through public relations
Recognising that public confidence is essential to quality healthcare delivery, Dr Tambil and his management team established a Public Relations Unit to strengthen communication with both internal and external stakeholders.
The unit forms part of management’s broader strategy to combat misinformation and disinformation that could undermine public confidence in the hospital and its highly skilled professionals.
The initiative also aligns with the vision of Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, to strengthen client relations across health facilities by promoting prompt engagement, effective resolution of patient complaints, continuous monitoring of patient satisfaction and the identification of recurring service gaps.
Expanding access through the Haemodialysis Centre
Among the hospital’s most significant recent achievements is the establishment of a modern Haemodialysis Centre.
Before the facility became operational, patients requiring dialysis had to travel long distances to the Tamale Teaching Hospital, often at considerable financial and emotional cost.
The vision for the centre was conceived by Mr Ayamga Ayariga, a Critical Care Nurse, and championed by Dr Emmanuel Akatibo, a Physician Specialist. The project, estimated at GH¢800,000.00, was realised through a collaborative fundraising effort involving hospital management, government institutions, non-governmental organisations, Members of Parliament, corporate bodies and generous individuals.
Today, the centre is equipped with 10 dialysis machines and provides life-saving treatment for patients with kidney disease from across the Upper East Region, neighbouring parts of the North East Region and communities in Burkina Faso.
The facility has significantly improved access to specialised renal care while reducing the financial and emotional burden on patients and their families.
Building a healthier future together
For almost 80 years, trust has remained the cornerstone of the Upper East Regional Hospital’s relationship with the people it serves.
As the hospital continues its journey towards becoming a leading centre of medical excellence in Ghana, management has expressed profound appreciation to the public for its unwavering confidence and support.
The hospital remains committed to continuous improvement through research, innovation, learning and compassionate care. Every scientific discovery, investment in modern healthcare and effort to strengthen patient services reflects a shared commitment to improving the lives of the people and communities it serves.
By combining research with compassion, the Upper East Regional Hospital is demonstrating that the future of healthcare lies not only in treating disease but also in continually discovering better ways to care for people, improve health outcomes and build healthier, more resilient communities for generations to come.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/Audrey Dekalu
Writer: Godfred Aaneamenga Polkuu
Writer’s email: [email protected]