Health Ministry calls for more support to stem brain drain

Accra, May 3, GNA - Professor Kwaku Danso-Boafo, Minister of Health, on Wednesday called for more support from donors for a successful implementation of the Ghana Health Service.

He said further support would also be welcomed to stem the current brain drain in the health sector. Prof. Danso-Boafo was speaking when Dr Frank Young, Mission Director of the US Agency for International Development, (USAID) paid a courtesy call on him in Accra.

The occasion was used to review areas of co-operation between the governments of Ghana and the US in the health sector. Prof. Danso-Boafo said the Ministry was trying to find ways to create attractive incentive packages to encourage health professionals to remain in the country and bring those outside back home.

Dr Young said the US is prepared to assist in the expansion of quality community health services throughout the country including child immunisation programmes. He touched on the HIV/AIDS programme in Ghana and said the State Department and high ranking officials in the US are highly impressed about efforts being made by the country in this direction, right up to the political level.

Dr Young said most countries that embarked on intensive HIV/AIDS programmes did so only after being hit with an epidemic but Ghana has shown that one does not need to wait until the situation is out of control to step up efforts. He drew the health ministry's attention to the public health laboratories in the country, which are facing some problems with equipment, personnel and bills from utilities. He said these laboratories are being used for screening diseases such as /AIDS.

Dr Sam Adjei, Deputy Director of the Ghana Health Service, said there are plans to extend the community health service scheme being run in Navrongo to other parts of the country. He noted that this is because the scheme has been found to be cost effective since a community nurse with the assistance of volunteers are able to reach out to the people at a minimum cost instead of setting up clinics in all areas of the country.