A major project to build a world class Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Burns Centre of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital is expected to be completed in September this year.

This was revealed by Director of the Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Burns Unit, Dr. Opoku-Ware Ampomah.

Following the last year’s June 3 flood and fire disaster, government, corporate bodies and the public have contributed monies and equipment to the Korle Bu Burns unit in a bid to improve the level of care.

Many victims of the June 3 fire and flood disaster died because they could not get access to ICU facilities.

The Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) last year gave a grant worth $1 million (GHS3.8 million) to facilitate the development of the Centre’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The new Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is expected to be the first in Ghana, and West Africa.

Photo: Dr Ampomah in jacket and tie

“The grant that GNPC gave is going towards completing the ICU. So the work is ongoing and we are hopeful that within the next four to six months it should be completed and running. We are hopeful that by September it should be completed,” said Dr Ampomah.

Enterprise Insurance Group has donated $30,000 equipment and other items to the Burns Centre.

Also, as part of its 10^th anniversary the National Petroleum Authority has dedicated 1 million Cedis to support the burns unit on the 1^st Anniversary of the flood and fire disaster.

These donations are expected to boost treatment of victims of burns at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital when the new Intensive Care Unit for the Burns Center is completed.