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BELPRE — Memorial Health System is moving forward with construction of its new Women and Children’s Hospital at the Belpre Medical Campus, just over a year after breaking ground on the facility.

The health system hosted a groundbreaking ceremony in October 2024 that drew more than 700 guests, including Gov. Mike DeWine and State Rep. Jay Edwards, to mark what leaders called a historic step for expanding health care access in Southeast Ohio.

The Women and Children’s Hospital will be the only facility in the region dedicated to the care of women and children. Plans include a Level II neonatal intensive care unit, pharmacy, café, gift shop, lactation services, private delivery rooms, a special care nursery, family support areas, operating rooms and a post-partum rooftop terrace.

According to Memorial Health System, the hospital will allow 1,400 births to remain local each year, provide specialty care access for about 400,000 patients, and keep 85% of previously transferred NICU infants close to home.

Site work for the project began Oct. 1, with equipment now active on campus as the health system continues to navigate the U.S. Department of Agriculture financing process and team onboarding requirements. Project teams will be finalized Nov. 1, and full construction is expected to begin in early 2026 once USDA design approval is secured.

Akron Children’s Hospital will begin construction simultaneously on an adjoining medical office building connected to the new facility.

More information about the Women and Children’s Hospital project is available at togethermhf.org