Accra, July 6, GNA - Available statistics indicate that hypertension and diabetes are common among staff of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the country.

Mr Yuruf Quainoo, National Focal Person of Tuberculosis Project, who announced this said this was after medical examination had been conducted on them for two years.

He was addressing participants of a two-hour health walk jointly organized by the managements of IRS, Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) and Value Added Tax (VAT) in collaboration with the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), AIDS Commission and TB Project. It was under the theme: "Revenue Maximization in a Healthy Environment."

The walk started from the premises of the IRS (Head Office), through ministries, National Theatre and ended at Saint Aquinas Senior High School.

Mr Quainoo stressed the need for the excise to be organized at least quaterly because of the sedentary nature of their work, which made it difficult for them to undertake excise.

Ms. Annie Anipa, Assistant Commissioner and Public Relations Officer of CEPS said tax collection was very important but the health of the staff collecting the taxes was most important.

She told the participants not to wait until another health walk was organized but to continue excising their body and desist from taking alcoholic beverages which was not good for their health. The participants were tested for HIV, TB status, hypertension and diabetes.