Health minister, Hon Kwaku Agyeman Manu, has pledged more support from the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the government of Ghana to the West African Health Organization (WAHO) to improve health in the West African region.

The minister argued that, one cannot isolate himself from health issues in the region due to it’s cross border activities, thus the need to support the ECOWAS health body, WAHO to enhance its mandate.

“We will place priority on issues related to WAHO, the president has committed himself to work with all sectors (including the WAHO) to fight diseases in the region”, Hon Kwaku Agyeman Manu intoned.

Hon Kwaku Agyeman Manu made these remarks when he received a team of delegation from the WAHO, last Wednesday [March 8] in Accra.

The team, which on a working visit to Ghana, was led by Dr Xavier Crespin, director general, accompanied by the Director of Internal Service, Mr Richard Awunyo, the Acting Director of Primary Health Care, Dr Kofi Busia, the Professional Officer for Non Infectious Diseases, Dr William Bosu and it’s administrator, Mrs Lalaissa Amoukou.

Dr Xavier Crespin praised Ghana’s previous support to the organization and more so, its efforts towards traditional medicine practice. He however asked for Ghana’s increased commitment towards achieving a universal health coverage and systems strengthening through innovation.

He pleaded with the government to support WAHO’s efforts to train staff and professionals alike to improve health in the sub-region. Dr Crespin further challenged the country to improve its participation and attendance at regional meetings.

The team has since arriving in Ghana on Tuesday March 7, paid courtesy call on the USAID, the Ghana Health Service and the Traditional medicine groups; Traditional and Alternative Medicine directorate and Ghana Federation of Traditional Medicine (GHAFTRAM).

The West African health Organization (WAHO)

The West African Health Organization, is the specialized agency of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in charge of health issues with it’s he headquarters of WAHO located in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.

The objective of the West African Health Organization is to provide the highest level of health care provision to the populations of the sub-region on the basis of The harmonization of Member States’ policies, the pooling of resources and cooperation between Member States and third countries with a view to finding collectively and strategically solutions to the health problems of the subregion ” .

Thus, through its protocol of creation, the WAHO is invested by the Heads of State and Government of the political mandate to ensure the regional coordination of health in the ECOWAS area.