Dapaong Regional Hospital: A Hub of Healthcare Transformation in Northern Togo
The Dapaong Regional Hospital Center (CHR), a critical healthcare facility in Togo’s northern Savanes region, has undergone a significant and continuous modernization effort between 2020 and 2025. Faced with a 61% regional occupancy rate, health authorities prioritized these upgrades to enhance infrastructure, bolster staff, and ensure reliable access to care for the local population.
Modern Infrastructure and Advanced Medical Equipment
From 2020 to 2022, key departments including the operating room, pediatrics, and maternity ward were fully renovated. The hospital also saw the construction of new facilities, such as a dedicated dialysis center and a medical biology laboratory.
The radiology department was outfitted with a new X-ray table, an ultrasound machine, and an electrocardiograph. This modernization contributed to a 20% increase in procedures performed, rising from 9,815 in 2019 to 11,773 in 2021.
Further improvements in late 2023 included the modernization of the morgue and the neonatology unit, funded with 7.2 million and 1.8 million CFA francs, respectively. An additional 22 million CFA francs were invested in new laboratory equipment.
The CHR’s new endowments feature state-of-the-art technology: incubators for newborns, a modern scanner, emergency ventilators, and specialized surgical tools. A renovated reception area has also improved the patient experience, creating a better environment for staff to manage the growing influx of patients.
Strengthening Human Resources and Training
Recognizing that quality care depends on skilled personnel, the State recruited and placed specialist doctors, midwives, and nurses in April 2024. Continuous training programs were also established, including for 192 general practitioners in 2021.
To support and retain young medical talent in the region, a 29-million CFA franc accommodation building for interns and trainees was inaugurated in August 2024. Partnerships with the University of Kara and other institutions facilitate the hosting of medical students, ensuring quality educational follow-up.
Diversified and Accessible Patient Care
The State has reinforced support for underprivileged populations. In 2022, 1,772 patients received free care, supported by hospital funding of 160 million CFA francs in 2022 and 185 million in 2023.
This investment allows the CHR to offer a wide range of specialized care, including general medicine, surgery, gynecology-obstetrics, pediatrics, cardiology, and ophthalmology. Patients can now undergo various examinations on-site without needing to travel to Lomé.
The hospital actively conducts public health campaigns for vaccination, prenatal care, malaria screening, and hygiene. The renovated maternity ward provides comprehensive support for pregnant women, while the pediatrics department, equipped with modern incubators, cares for premature newborns and sick children.
These collective efforts enabled the CHR to record 2,338 deliveries and 43,075 total visits in 2022. Through these significant investments, the Dapaong Regional Hospital Center is solidifying its role as a leading healthcare hub for northern Togo.