Accra, Feb.16, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Wednesday said health being very central to socio-economic development would form a major component in the Government's human resources development programme for accelerated growth.

"Health to us is central for socio-economic development and in line with the Government's programme on human resources development for accelerated growth", he said.

President Kufuor made the observation when Mr Bernard Kouchner, a former French Minister of Health and Founder of Medicins San Frontiers (Doctors Without Borders), an NGO paid a courtesy call on him at the Castle, Osu.

He expressed the Government's appreciation to the NGO for its assistance to improve on health care delivery in Ghana, adding, " we are happy you are here, we are proud of the work you are doing for humanity."

Mr. Kouchner commended the Government for the growth of democracy and stability in Ghana.

He said Ghana had made massive progress in the education, prevention and cure of many diseases common in developing countries and pledged the commitment of the NGO to undertake more intensive work in the education programmes on HIV/AIDS and other diseases.

Mr Kouchner said the NGO and the Ministry of Health would soon sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to link a hospital in Ghana to its counterpart in Marseilles in France for more improved health care delivery.