For over a century, the Princess Marie Louise Children’s’ hospital has provided dedicated pediatric care in the country. But now, the hospital is struggling to continue its mission due to its deteriorating condition.
Also known as the Children’s Hospital in Accra, the Princess Marie Louise Children’s Hospital has been a cornerstone of pediatric care in Ghana since its inception in 1926, attending to an average of 300 children on daily.
Located in the heart of Accra’s central business district, the hospital has been a beacon of hope for countless children and families.
However, despite its rich history and long-standing dedication to child healthcare, the hospital’s infrastructure has deteriorated significantly. Parts of the building, including the wards, have developed visible cracks, with exposed iron rods on pillars posing a threat to the safety of both staff and patients.
The drainage system is choked while electrical wires were exposed upon our visit to the facility. The facility is yet to undergo any major renovation, despite its worsening condition.
Father Andrew Campbell a management member of the hospital expressed concern.
‘It’s dangerous and I’m afraid. I get afraid. So, we need an urgent renovation on this hospital so that we give better services. Anytime I go there, and I see the condition, I get scared. It has to be done to help the hospital and keep the standards. We need about 7 million dollars to complete this building renovation. It can be done. Where there is a will, there’s a way.” He said.
In 2021, the government ordered a structural integrity test of the facility. However, hospital management says there has been no real commitment to addressing the facility’s needs, despite a growing demand for its services.
Medical superintendent of the hospital Dr. Maame Yaa Nyarko is equally worried about the situation.
‘‘As the hospital turns hundred years, it means that we have buildings on this ground that are about a hundred years old. We have some that are about 7o years old. In fact, it is only one building here that I am older than. And because of the infrastructure, it’s affected the plumbing and electrical system of the hospital. We need all to come onboard and support us to offer the needed care to the patients. Most of these children are coming from less privileged homes and so the endowment fund will go a long way to support care.’’ She explained.
One hundred years after its establishment, management is appealing to the general public to support the hospital’s endowment fund to help meet urgent infrastructure and service needs. They will need about 7 million dollars to complete all renovation works.
Calls are growing for the establishment of more children’s hospitals across the country to reduce the burden on Princess Marie Louise Children’s Hospital.
The children’s specialist hospital at Weija, when commissioned, is expected to help ease pressure on the century-old facility.
