Government to invest in health-WHO

Accra, April 4, GNA - The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that unless countries adopt a global health response to disease outbreaks and other health related concerns, the rising threats to health and security would continue to place international public health in danger, Dr Joaquim Saweka, WHO Country Representative said on Wednesday. He explained that global health was facing a greater risk than ever before with new infectious diseases emerging each year, whilst old enemies such as tuberculosis, yaws, guinea worm and other communicable diseases were emerging again.

Dr Saweka said this at a press briefing in Accra towards the World Health Day, which falls on Holy Saturday, April 7 but will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 11th.

The day under theme: "International health Security" and the Slogan: "Invest in Health, Build a safer Future", is aimed at establishing greater awareness and public understanding of the link between health and security and engage high-level political commitment to address key health security challenges at all levels.

It is also to create a sense of shared mission for the achievement of the objectives through collective action and reassure WHO of Ghana's confidence and commitment to their crucial role in helping make the world more secure and safer to live in.

Dr Saweka noted that chronic lifestyles diseases, natural disasters, and threats of wars, terrorism and climate change have compounded the health situation.

"For us in developing countries this situation has been worsened by under-funded health systems and the migration of skilled health workers to more affluent countries", he added.

He said the best defence against the emerging and epidemic prone disease was a passive barrier at borders airports and seaports but proactive risk management to detect an outbreak early and stop it at source "before it has a chance to become an international threat". Mr. Samuel Owusu Agyei, Deputy Minister of Health explained that though the Ministry has limited resources, there was the need to channel more into strengthening public health sectors, build capacity to prevent diseases and improve the country's preparedness for effective response to any threats to health.

Mr Owusu Agyei gave the assurance that health was a priority area on government's agenda and would do all it could to ensure a healthy population for a healthy nation.

Dr Frank Bonsu, Acting Director of the Disease Control Unit of the Ghana Health Service said international security was very vital for continuous existence and progress of mankind and called on civil society to look at the top ten diseases in low-income countries, which threatened both international and national securities.