Ministry of Health to speed up health delivery

Kumasi Oct. 9, Ghanadot/GNA - The Ministry of Health is pursuing a new health policy to speed up health delivery in a holistic, sustainable and equitable manner.
The strategic direction of the new agenda is to improve human capital and health which is central to Ghana’s development efforts and make it contribute to the overall national development.

Mr. Abraham Dwumah-Odoom, Deputy Minister of Health, said only a healthy population could bring about improved productivity and increase Goss Domestic Product (GDP).

He said this at the maiden 2008 Annual General and Scientific Session for the Conference of Heads of Health Training Institutions (COHHETI) held in Kumasi on Monday.

The meeting, which was under the theme ”The mew paradigm for health care in Ghana; The role of training institutions”, was attended by heads of Nurses Training colleges, Midwifery Training collages, Ophthalmic Training School, School of Hygiene, School of Anaesthesia and others.

It was aimed at incorporating regenerative health and healthy lifestyles into the curricula, financing of health training institutions and attraction and retention of tutors.

Mr. Dwumah-Odoom said emphasis should be moved from curative health care to promotion of health and prevention of diseases and that regenerative health and nutrition meant focus on healthy eating, food safety, drinking potable water and exercises.

He also assured the institutions of the commitment to assist them with resources to enable them produce more dedicated staff.

Mr. James Yambor, Chairman of COHHETI, commended the Ministry of Health for recognizing the important role the group plays in the health sector and called for assistance to facilitate some of the accreditation processes for training schools.

GNA