Africans still need health security

Accra, May 18, GNA - Major Courage Quashigah, Minister of Health has said Africans are still far from assuring themselves of health security.

He said as a result of human activities, Africans had defiled the environment and destroyed the purity and sanctity of elements of life such as air, water and food which had resulted in high morbidity and mortality rates.

This was contained in statement he made at the 60th World Health Assembly held in Geneva, Switzerland last Tuesday. His statement released in Accra on Friday by Mr. Dan Osman Mwin, Public Relations Officer of the Ministry, said the Minister explained that international heath security required the mobilization of local and international knowledge, resources and action to protect people against attack on their physical, mental and social well being, which had eluded Africans.

Major Quashigah noted that globalization had resulted in all nations being vulnerable to invasion by diseases as well as the social and economic shocks of those outbreaks He bemoaned diseases invading the continent, when some countries had relegated them to history, adding that Africans invested in biomedical technology, drugs, hospital and health centres which did not produce health but rather ill health. The Minister also announced the development of a new health policy and a five-year programme of work for Ghana on the theme; "Creating Wealth Through Health".

He said the policy would aim at addressing the social determinants of health such as nutrition, water, environmental sanitation, physical activity and recreation.

Major Quashigah also announced the introduction of the "Regenerative Health and Nutrition Programme" a community-based training programme to establish change agents on health lifestyles.