Ghana News

The Honorable Minister for Health, Major (Rtd) Courage Quashigah has commended the World Health Organization for being outstanding in its role as the technical advisor to member countries on health and in keeping down the trend of major childhood killer diseases. He said the Organization has been very instrumental in the development of vaccines and drugs to combat diseases that afflict people of all ages.

Twenty-five selected districts have received Red Trunk Libraries during the 5th Regional HIV/AIDS Coordinators, Counsellors and ART/Opportunistic Infection (ART/OI) Site Representatives' Meeting held in the Capital View Hotel, Koforidua from 23 – 25 January 2008. The World Health Organization (WHO) used the opportunity to present the Red Trunks Libraries to the Regional Coordinators for distribution to selected districts nominated by the respective Regions.

The WHO Representative to Ghana, Dr. Joaquim Saweka has emphasized that Traditional leaders, especially Chiefs and their Elders have a major responsibility as partners in the dissemination of health information in their communities. Dr. Saweka said the position of chiefs in the traditional set up in Ghana, as he has observed, makes Chiefs potential instruments for effective dissemination of important health information among the rural folks majority of whom do not have access to health information through modern technology.

In response to the escalating public health problems related to the harmful use of alcohol and other psychoactive substance, the WHO Regional Office for Africa (WHO/AFRO) has begun a project using the WHO tool called ASSIST-Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test- for detection and early intervention for psychoactive substance users.

The WHO Representative to Ghana, Dr. Joaquim Saweka has presented a Certificate of Recognition to Mr. Samuel K. Hagan for being adjudged the Best Worker for 2006. Dr. Saweka made the presentation at a WCO staff new year lunch promoted by the Staff Association on Friday 1, February 2008. The day will go into the annals of the WHO Country Office as a memorable one since it is the first time a staff has been honored for meritorious service to the Organization.

The Head of State and President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency John Agyekum Kufour at the weekend shared moments of joy with the WHO Representative to Ghana, Dr. Joaquim Saweka at the grand durbar of the chiefs and people of Mamfe in Akwapim Traditional Area of the Eastern Region. The two personalities joined the people of Mamfe Akwapim to climax their Annual Ohum festival on Saturday 26 January 2008. 

29 JUNE 2007 | ACCRA -- A mission of Consultants from WHO Africa Region (AFRO) and Headquarters is in the country to make official contacts with the Ministry of Health including the Food and Drugs Board and the Ghana Health Service for their full information and update on the Meningitis Vaccine Project.

4 MAY 2007 | ACCRA -- The Government of Ghana has advised its citizens to remain calm in the wake of the detection of the first case of bird Flu in Ghana. The outbreak of the H5N1 virus was confirmed last Tuesday after it was detected on a small scale poultry farm near the port city of Tema at the weekend.

Accra, 25 July 2005 -- The Honorable Minster of Health of Ghana, Major (Rtd) Courage Quashigah today said that for the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and other agreed national and international goals, Africa will need to adopt a paradigm shift to focus more on health promotion.

"This is because most of the determinants of health lie outside the traditional boundaries of the health sector; and improving health will require actions that are multi-sectoral as well as intersectoral", he said.

Strengthening presence in countries for strategic support to effective national health systems and service - EPI component

Rationale and justification

Major challenges:

• Sustain the reduction in morbidity and mortality of vaccine preventable diseases
• Stagnating immunization coverage for vaccine preventable diseases
• Poor access to, and quality of immunization and surveillance activities in priority districts and sub-districts.

Vision of country office: