Ghana calls on US to assist in human resource development

Dr Richard Anane, Minister of Health, on Tuesday called on the United States to help in the training of health professionals to stem the tide of the brain drain.

He said human resource development is crucial since lack of training programmes and opportunities for health workers are some of the reasons for shortage of manpower.

Speaking during a courtesy call on him by Ms Katharine Dee Robinson, US Ambassador, Dr Anane said the national post-graduate medical programme, which will take off this year, is expected to attract Ghanaian professionals resident outside to take up teaching appointments.

He said the ministry is focusing on child health, reproductive health, health financing and HIV/AIDS this year.

It is also engaged in evolving various community health and social insurance schemes as a means of establishing a pre-payment cost-sharing programme to meet health care financing.

Ms Robinson said the US government is making available additional funds to the health sector to address HIV/AIDS, child health and other critical areas of concern.

She spoke about the need to give urgent attention to the HIV pandemic so that it does not erode developmental gains.