WHO Africa Director arrives

Accra, June 14, GNA - The World Health Organisation Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Sambo arrived in the country on Wednesday to attend a high level ministerial meeting on health research for developing countries.

The meeting, which begins on Thursday, is collaboration between the Government of Ghana and the WHO.

Dr Sambo told newsmen on arrival that he had intensified advocacy with African Governments to increase budget allocation for health. He observed that the international community was highly committed to improving the health delivery system within developing countries and effective co-ordination.

He said some of the problems that the health delivery system faced were maternal and infant mortality. Dr Sambo observed that there was the need to develop research institutions to ensure growth within health services and that new ways of funding would have to be found from within since funding was done externally.

On guinea worm, he said the disease was in the process of being eradicated, adding that it had to be tackled from its roots, which was water.

Dr Sambo expressed the hope that the meeting would avail developing countries the opportunity to outline their policies on progress within their respective health sectors.

At the airport to meet Dr Sambo were Dr Joaqim Saweko, World Health Organisation representative in Ghana; Dr Dauda Toure, United Nations Development Project Resident Co-ordinator and Mr Owusu Agyei, Deputy Minister of Health.