Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama on Saturday said the lack of a Regional Hospital in the Upper West Region was an oversight and gave the assurance that consultations were underway to have one established at Wa the regional capital.
He was speaking at a durbar of chiefs and people of the region to climax the 20th anniversary celebration of the creation of the region at Wa.
Alhaji Mahama noted that the major problem confronting the health sector in the region was the lack of enough qualified medical personnel though the area had produced a number of medical doctors, who preferred to work in other parts of the country.
He, therefore, appealed to 'the large army of doctors and other health professionals' who hail from the region to return home and render services to their people.
On HIV/AIDS, Vice President Mahama said reports indicated that its rate of infection was increasing in the region adding that the disease should engage the attention of everyone because it was infecting the most productive and active segment of the population.
Vice President Mahama urged the people to engage in activities that would assist in reducing the disparities in the standard of living between them and those in the older regions.
MR Sahanun Mogtari, Upper West Regional Minister said the fundamental essence of the celebration was to generate interest in the welfare of the people and the development of the region by all citizens as well development partners.
He said the chiefs and people in the region were prepared to provide a peaceful and conducive environment for non-governmental organisations and development partners to execute their development programmes.
Naa Abaifaa Karbo II, President of the Regional House of Chiefs, called on the people to do away with chieftaincy, land and political disputes, which have become threats to their unity.
He appealed to the government to revamp the cotton industry in the region to enable the three cotton ginneries in the region to operate at full capacity to create jobs for the people.
Gracing the occasion were other dignitaries including Ministers and Deputy Ministers of state and some Members of Parliament from the region.
Ten prominent personalities who played key roles in the creation of the region were honoured
