The Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, has launched a public appeal to raise GH¢3 million for the establishment of the first-ever Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Takoradi Hospital.
With a population of over one million people, the Western Region has for years lacked an ICU a major gap in its healthcare system.
Patients in need of intensive care are often transferred to the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital or facilities in other parts of the country, a situation that has tragically cost lives due to delays.
An ICU is a vital unit in any hospital. It provides specialized care and equipment for patients in life-threatening conditions, often making the difference between life and death while reducing the need for risky referrals.
To show leadership, Hon. Nelson pledged GH¢100,000 of his own resources toward the project. Announcing this at a press briefing in Sekondi, he explained:
“Healthcare is universal. Everybody needs it. I’ve taken the charge because I’m the leader in this region, and I felt I should lead for all of us to contribute. This is not about me; it’s about what we must provide for the people. From Asankragwa all the way to Wassa East, anybody can access it. I call on corporate Ghana and all who are able to contribute it’s our responsibility.”
The Medical Superintendent of the Takoradi Hospital, Dr. George Peprah, also emphasized the urgency of the facility:
“The ICU is a very important unit. It’s where we keep critically ill patients — those who cannot breathe on their own, stroke patients, or those with organ failure. If you place such patients on a general ward, the probability of losing them increases. The ICU gives them one-to-one monitoring, specialized machines like ventilators, and a real chance of survival.”
All 14 Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in the Western Region have pledged GH¢10,000 each toward the project. The call is now open to benevolent individuals and institutions to support the initiative.
