A US$ 232, 000.00 Renal Dialysis Unit of the 37 Military Hospital, fully sponsored by the GCB Bank Limited has been commissioned in Accra to deliver Kidney related services.

Dialysis is a form of treatment that filters and purifies the blood using a machine when the kidneys are not functioning properly.

The entire Unit consists of six dialysis machines, two Ultrasound machines, Defibrillators with Monitors and Printers, a Water Purification Plant, amongst others. The Unit is co-located with the Intensive Care Unit and has the capacity for expansion.

Mr Anselm Ray Sowah, the Managing Director, GCB Bank Limited, said the new Unit will enhance the level of care provided to patients on dialysis and also promote a renewed enthusiasm among the staff.

He said GCB Bank has supported and continues to support many institutions and health facilities including the Ghana Armed Forces.

Mr Sowah said in September 2015, GCB Bank donated desktop computers and accessories and 12 Uninterrupted Power Supply valued at $12,089.20 to the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College.

He said in September 2016, the Bank again presented a 15- Seater Nissan bus to the Ghana Military Academy.

He said GCB Bank is committed to the health needs of citizens and as a result had refurbished the Female Ward ‘N’ of the Orthopaedic Centre of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.

Lieutenant General Obed Boamah Akwa, the Chief of Defence Staff, said according to the World Health Organization, 10 per cent of the population worldwide were affected by chronic kidney disease.

He said millions died each year due to lack of access to available and affordable treatment and over two million people worldwide currently receive treatment from dialysis or a kidney transplant to stay alive, yet this number may represent only 10 per cent of people, who actually need treatment in order to live.

Lieutenant Gen Akwa admonished all staff of the hospital to eschew mediocrity and strive for excellence.

“Remember that 37 Military Hospital has maintained an enviable track record of professionalism over the years, which should be maintained. I charge all of you to help maintain that level of professionalism”, he said.

Brigadier General Michael Akwasi Yeboah-Agyapong, the Commander of 37 Military Hospital, said even though Dialysis started in the 1940's, efforts to establish a Renal Dialysis Unit at the 37 Military Hospital started in 2007.

He said available records at the Kole-Bu Teaching Hospital as at May 2008, revealed that 65 end-stage renal disease patients were undergoing haemodialysis, compared to 48 the previous year.

He said several attempts were made to establish the unit, but financial, administrative and logistic bottlenecks made it impossible.

The hospital, he said, had always received proposals from various companies with varying packages which were forwarded to high headquarters for consideration, adding that, the burning desire to own it however led them to solicit support from other individuals and corporate bodies and the GCB Bank gave a positive response.

He said a team of interested and highly motivated personnel comprising of doctors, nurses, engineers and other support staff have undergone further refresher training and orientation on the machines.

Brig. Gen Yeboah-Agyapong said the first patient was dialyzed on February 14, adding that, the number of patients, who queued up for the use of the machine made it impossible to wait for a formal commissioning before starting operation.

He said the facility has even before it’s outdooring, attended to a total of seven cases with an accumulated total of 32 sessions.