David Atanga pays medical bills for needy patients at Upper East Regional Hospital

Bongo-born footballer has brought hope and relief to dozens of vulnerable patients at the Upper East Regional Hospital after settling medical bills worth more than GH¢20,000 for individuals unable to afford treatment.

The generous gesture by the forward, who currently plays for Austrian Bundesliga side, benefited patients across several wards of the hospital, including the Emergency and Accident Unit, the Children's Ward, and the maternity ward.

According to Mr. Atanga, he returned to Ghana from Austria with plans to support mothers in the maternity ward who were struggling to pay their hospital bills. However, following discussions with hospital management and the Social Welfare Unit, he decided to extend the support to needy patients in other wards.

“After meeting with the management and the Social Welfare Unit, they said other wards, including the Emergency and Accident Unit and the Children’s Ward, also have needy patients. My team and I quickly changed the plan to visit almost all the wards with patients who could not pay their medical bills,” he explained.

The footballer noted that he deliberately set aside his usual annual community football activities during this visit in order to focus on helping patients facing severe financial difficulties.

“Giving back to society is something I believe in so much, and I cannot do that without considering the vulnerable in our communities. I needed to put a smile on the faces of people who are battling for their lives in the hospital,” Mr. Atanga stated.

While he declined to disclose the exact number or identities of the beneficiaries, hospital officials described the intervention as timely and impactful.

A representative of the hospital’s Social Welfare Unit, Lillian Vuu, expressed appreciation for the donation, highlighting the growing challenge of caring for critically ill patients who often lack relatives or financial support.

“At the regional hospital, we are not finding it easy with patients who come to the facility with very critical health issues without relatives to support them. We appreciate David Atanga for this intervention,” she said.

The donation has been widely praised by residents and healthcare workers, with many describing it as a demonstration of compassion and social responsibility.

David Atanga's latest act of kindness adds to the growing contributions of sports personalities from the Upper East Region who continue to invest in the welfare and development of their communities beyond the football pitch.