The GHS3 million-facility, when established would help to ensure that critical health issues are managed in the region and reduce referrals to such Units in other regions.

As part of the plan, the Minister and management of the Takoradi Hospital have resolved to repurpose a ward into a state-of-the-art ICU to enhance the region’s critical care capabilities.

Mr Nelson speaking at a media launch in Sekondi, said the Western region with its huge population deserved to have its own critical health infrastructure like the ICU to provide care for the critically ill.

“To think that a region as big as ours does not have an ICU anywhere in our hospitals is a sad situation, so I believe that something urgent needs to be done to at least remedy the situation,” he said.

The Western Regional Minister, thus, appealed to corporate institutions, benevolent organisations, and individuals to donate towards the realisation of this dream.

Mr Nelson said: “We can say that the central government needs to give us a facility of this nature but time is not on our side, and we must help ourselves to set-up a vital health infrastructure like the ICU in the region.

“The ball is in our court and it is important that we all come together and contribute to the realisation of this dream.”

Dr George Peprah, the Medical Superintendent of the Takoradi Hospital, stated that the region desperately needed an ICU to reduce referrals to the nearest facility in Cape Coast, and commended the Regional Minister for championing the initiative.

Meanwhile, as part of the launch, Mr Nelson pledged to donate an amount of GHC100,000 as seed funding, with others promising to support with GHC140,000 and GHC50,000.