On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, discover how St Benito Menni Catholic Hospital turns challenges into hope, confidence, and community
Every year on 3 December, the world comes together to celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. For us at the Delegation of England, this day is a moment to reflect on our work, our mission, and the real impact we see every day.
Some lives face barriers from the very first steps. On this day, we would like to highlight the work carried out at St Benito Menni Catholic Hospital in Dompoase, where care, inclusion, and hope change lives every day. Today, we share one such journey, a story that could be the experience of any child or adult who comes to the hospital seeking hope.
When a child is born with a disability in a village near Dompoase, life can feel overwhelming. Families struggle to understand the challenges ahead. Stigma and lack of medical information make the future seem uncertain. At St Benito Menni, everything changes. With patient care, rehabilitation, and guidance, the child learns to walk, to explore, to dream. Confidence returns. Smiles reappear. Life begins to move forward, full of possibility. Each story here represents hundreds of lives transformed, where fear becomes trust and isolation becomes community.
We know that mental health challenges can affect anyone. Access to care is often limited, and stigma can isolate individuals and families. Ghana is home to over 35 million people, and in the Ashanti Region, where the hospital is located, more than 5.4 million live, many in rural areas with limited access to mental health care. Less than 3 percent of those in need receive professional support. At St Benito Menni Catholic Hospital, disability or mental health challenges are not obstacles, they are opportunities for care, inclusion, and growth.
Our services empower individuals to regain independence and confidence while supporting families and communities:
Professional Mental Health Care: personalised counselling, therapy, and treatment plans that address individual needs.
Rehabilitation and Life Skills: therapy programmes that develop practical skills and encourage independence.
Family Support and Education: guidance and counselling that help families understand, support, and advocate for their loved ones.
Community Outreach: bringing care directly to those who cannot easily reach the hospital, ensuring everyone has the chance to access support.
At St Benito Menni Catholic Hospital, we believe every person has potential. Every programme we offer is designed to transform challenges into possibilities.
We focus on dignity by recognising each person’s abilities. We encourage empowerment by supporting choices in care and daily life. We foster inclusion by helping individuals participate fully in family and community activities.
Through these efforts, the hospital is not just a place of treatment, but a place of growth, confidence, and hope for the future.
As the Delegation of England, we are proud to support St Benito Menni Catholic Hospital. We help strengthen services, expand access, and raise awareness of the importance of mental health and disability care.
On this International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we reaffirm our dedication to creating a world where every individual is seen, valued, and given the opportunity to thrive.
At St Benito Menni Catholic Hospital, opportunities are more than programmes. They are the foundation of dignity, the path to empowerment, and the hope for an inclusive future.