Answering questions on the upcoming meeting on health research, Dr Sambo said Africa and other developing countries put very little resources into funding health research thus making most research work in Africa “foreign funded and foreign driven” and does not reflect what we want in terms of outcomes and measurable impact.

He noted that Africa did not lack the capacity and leadership for health research. “It is just that we are putting too little resources,” Dr Sambo said adding that African Governments should play a key role in matters of research and health because health research comes at a cost.

The Regional Director hoped the Accra meeting on health research will serve as a preparatory meeting to the 2008 Global Conference on Research for Health which will be hosted by Africa.

As part of his duty tour, Dr. Sambo paid a courtesy call on His Excellency the Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama at the Castle, Osu and held meetings with the Honorable Minister of Health Major Courage Quashigah (rtd) and other health officials. He also had briefings on the National Health Insurance Scheme, Guinea worm eradication programme and on Avian Influenza preparedness and Response in Ghana by various inter agency coordination committees.

Alhaji Aliu Mahama welcomed Dr Sambo to Ghana and expressed his heartfelt condolence to the Organization at the death of Dr LEE Jong-Wook, Director General of WHO. He recalled the late Director General’s visits to Ghana especially during the WHO Executive Board Retreat hosted by Ghana in November 2003 and for his visit during the re-launch of the guinea worm eradication programme. Alhaji Alui Mahama also commended the Organization for being so supportive to Ghana in the area of health.

Dr. Sambo expressed his concern about the situation of guinea worm in Ghana where the number of cases has increased in the past year despite efforts to eradicate the disease. He WHO will continue its support to the government to reduce the incidence of the disease in the country.

He said development partners were still committed to the guinea worm eradication programme and urged the Government of Ghana to give a high level support to this programme and also ensure effective social mobilization efforts at both the community and district levels to ensure that the people are involved. Dr. Sambo pledged his personal commitment to follow up on issues of guinea worm in Ghana.

For his part, the Vice President pledged his personal commitment to ensuring the success of the eradication programme as well as that of the Government in ensuring that people living in endemic areas were provided with potable water to avoid re-infection.

For more information contact:

Ms Sophia Twum-Barima
Health Information and Promotion Officer
WHO Country Office, Accra;
Tel 00 233 21 763918/9; 774719 
Fax 00 233 21 763920; 
E-Mail: twum-barimas [at] gh.afro.who.int