Naruhito appeals for assistance to deal with infectious diseases

Accra, March 9, GNA - Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan on Tuesday called for more commitment by the international community to deal with the threat of AIDS and other infectious diseases in the world. He noted that Africa had continually suffered from many infectious diseases such as malaria and remained one of the most seriously affected areas in the world.

"In Africa, there are 22.4 million people infected with HIV/AIDS, which represent 67 per cent of the world's total and in 2008, 1.4 million people died from AIDS", he added. Crown Prince Naruhito on a four-day visit to Ghana made the call when addressin g the maiden Dr Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize Memorial Symposium in Accra.

He expressed the hope that world leaders would encourage medical and health professionals to devote more attention to research into infectious diseases.

The symposium was attended by the first two recipients of the Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize, Dr Brian Greenwood of London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and Dr Mariam Were, a Kenyan Public Health Advocate. It attracted eminent personalities around the world to brainstorm on how to enhance medical research into parasitic and communicable diseases. The symposium was also to share ideas on the ideals of the late Dr Hideyo Noguchi, the foremost Japanese international medical researcher, who died in Accra on May 21, 1928, while researching into yellow fever in Ghana. It also contributed in creating awareness of the importance to research in the field of infectious diseases to strengthen the health system in Africa.

Crown Prince Naruhito paid tribute to the pioneering efforts and devotion in the search for a cure for yellow fever by Dr Noguchi. Crown Prince Naruhito, who is also the Honorary President of United Nations Secretary General's Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation, called for concerted efforts by the international community to find solution to infectious diseases in the world.

Vice President John Dramani Mahama, recalled that the Japanese Government established the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research in Accra in 1979 as a donation to Ghana to help promote medical research. He said it had emerged as one of the foremost kind in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Vice President Mahama said child mortality and improvement of maternal health care still remained challenges to mankind.

He expressed appreciation for organising the symposium in Accra, and pledged government's co-operation to make it successful. Vice President Mahama expressed appreciation for the Japanese Government's development assistance to Ghana and described Japan as a "true friend of Ghana".

"Young volunteers from Japan continue to arrive in Ghana to serve in some of the remotest parts of the country," Vice President Mahama said. Crown Prince Naruhito later laid a wreath at the La Cemetary in Accra, to the memory of Japanese volunteers who lost their lives in the line of duty in Ghana.