The Renal Unit at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital has been closed for almost 2 weeks now, with no official explanation provided.
The closure of the renal unit resulted in the deaths of three kidney patients, that’s according to the president of Kidney Patients Association, Baffour Ahenkorah.
On a typical day, the entrance to the unit is bustling with patients arriving for dialysis.
Today, however, it is almost deserted, with only a few staff members seen nearby.
Inside, many of the machines were not functioning when I entered the facility. The usual beeping sounds were absent. A similar incident occurred in June 2024 due to maintenance.
However, this time around, the exact reason for the closure remains unconfirmed.
The shutdown of the Renal Unit has led to significant financial strain for outpatients, many of whom have been forced to seek treatment at private facilities, an option that comes with steep costs.
The NHIA promised to provide eight free dialysis sessions per month to kidney patients under the age of 18 and over the age of 60 beginning Saturday, June 1, and ending December 2024.
Patients aged 19 to 59 will receive two free sessions per month, but this has not yet been fulfilled at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital