Western Region Minister, Joseph Nelson, has stepped up efforts to raise funds for the construction of the region’s first Intensive Care Unit (ICU), calling on corporate bodies, institutions, and residents to contribute toward what he describes as a critical and overdue project.
With a population of more than one million people, the Western Region remains without a single ICU facility.
As a result, critically ill patients are frequently referred to Cape Coast Teaching Hospital or other facilities outside the region for care.
This has led to several deaths which could have been prevented provided an ICU facility existed. In all, a little over GH¢3 million is required for the full completion of the project.
To demonstrate commitment, the Minister has already pledged GH¢100,000 of his personal funds to kick-start the project.
Speaking in an interview with Nhyiraba Paa Kwesi Simpson, the host of Connect FM’s Omanbapa Morning Show, Medical Superintendent of the Takoradi Hospital, Dr. George Peprah underscored the urgency of the facility, stressing the lives lost because of the region’s current limitations.
“The ICU is a very important unit. It’s where we keep critically ill patients. These are people who cannot breathe on their own. If you place such patients on a general ward, the probability of losing them increases. We do not have such a critical unit in the whole of the Western Region.
“Most of the patients who need ICU care unfortunately die. Many do not go beyond 24 hours. The only way to save them is to transfer them to Cape Coast, but they mostly have issues with beds, so the transfers are often unsuccessful,” he indicated.
Mr. Joseph Nelson described the lack of an ICU as a major threat to health of the people and urged collective action to address it.
“The foundation of all activities we do is health, and there is the need to work on our health centres to ensure our people are healthy. The absence of an ICU in the Western Region is a call for concern. We never know who will need ICU care because anyone can fall sick at any time.
“Imagine someone critically ill having to travel to Cape Coast or Accra, if care is not taken, the person might die before getting there. We need the help of everyone in the Western Region. I call on corporate Ghana and all who can contribute, it’s our responsibility,” he added.
Led by the Minister, the Western Region Coordinating Council has already rolled out a structured donation platforms as efforts intensify to make the region’s first ICU project a reality.
