Ghana's Premier Children's Hospital Turns 100, Demands Urgent Investment in Paediatric Care

One of Ghana's most storied medical institutions, the Princess Marie Louise Children's Hospital, has marked a century of service with a pointed call on government, the private sector and development partners to significantly increase investment in paediatric healthcare. The hospital's centenary celebrations brought together health officials, policymakers and stakeholders who agreed that whilst the milestone deserves recognition, far more work remains to be done.

A Century of Pioneering Child Healthcare

The hospital traces its origins to 1926, when Princess Marie Louise visited the then Gold Coast and was moved by the alarming rate of child mortality she encountered. What began as a modest facility tackling malnutrition and infectious diseases has since grown into one of Ghana's foremost paediatric referral centres, offering neonatal care, paediatric surgery, immunisation, nutritional rehabilitation and the management of both communicable and non-communicable conditions including sickle cell disease and HIV. The institution also functions as a critical training ground for doctors, nurses and paediatric specialists, whilst maintaining research partnerships with local and international bodies.

Persistent Challenges Cloud the Celebrations

Head of Clinical Services, Dr. Margaret Neizer, used the centenary platform to acknowledge the hospital's considerable achievements whilst drawing attention to the hurdles that continue to hamper its work. Long waiting times, a shortage of specialised services, a growing patient load and shifting healthcare needs were among the difficulties she identified. She also raised concerns about the hospital's ageing infrastructure, noting that several of its buildings were originally designed as temporary structures and are now straining under the weight of increasing demand. Ghana's neonatal mortality rate currently stands at 22.8 deaths per 1,000 live births, and preventable illnesses such as pneumonia continue to claim thousands of young lives each year.

Security and Sustainable Financing in Focus

Child abduction incidents reported in parts of the country brought hospital security into sharp focus during the celebrations. Deputy Chief of Staff, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, insisted that protecting children within healthcare facilities must rank as a national priority. She also highlighted the launch of an Endowment Fund designed to draw contributions from government, corporate bodies and individual donors, with the aim of improving services, expanding specialised care and bolstering the hospital's overall capacity.

A Call for Renewed National Commitment

Dr. Neizer outlined a roadmap for the hospital's second century, centred on expanding the health workforce, driving research and innovation, accelerating digital transformation and forging stronger partnerships across sectors. Stakeholders present at the centenary were united in their view that the occasion should serve not merely as a moment of reflection but as a catalyst for concrete national action. They stressed that every child in Ghana deserves access to quality healthcare, and that sustained investment in infrastructure, staffing and resources is the only way to honour the hospital's legacy going forward.