Wa, March 24, GNA - More than 1.8 million Ghanaians received medical treatment from Cuban doctors last year, Dr Felipe Delgado, National Coordinator of Cuban Medical Brigade has said. He said out of the 189 doctors, 18 of them were providing medical services to the people of the Upper West Region, representing 10 per cent of the total number of Cuban doctors in the country. Dr. Delgado made this known at a Cuban Medical Brigade Regional Scientific Workshop held in Wa to review research findings on malaria in pregnancy and incidence of meningitis among others. He gave the assurance that the Cuban government would continue to support Ghana with medical professionals to provide quality healthcare service delivery to the people, especially those in the rural communities.

Dr. Delgado said Cuba and Ghana were both developing countries and there was therefore the need for them to assist each other in areas they have competitive advantages for the mutual benefit of their people. "This cooperation would also help to strengthen and improve the existing cordial relationship between Cuba and Ghana," Dr. Delgado said. Mr. Mahmud Khalid, Upper West Regional Minister who opened the workshop thanked the Cuban government and the doctors for accepting postings to work in rural health facilities and providing quality healthcare services to the people.

"But for the Cuban doctors, many health facilities in the Upper West Region would have been without doctors," Mr. Khalid said, adding, "right now there are only nine Ghanaian doctors including those serving as administrators".

Mr. Khalid appealed to the Cuban government to help provide neurologists and neuron surgeons to the region to take care of the specific health needs of the people. He also appealed to Ghanaian doctors to accept posting to the region because their services were needed more than they expected. 25 March 09