Takoradi, Oct.22,- GNA-The hernia unit of the Takoradi Hospital was inaugurated on Friday to treat patients and offer training for doctors and nurses in new and modern techniques of treating the disease.

The unit was established under the auspices of the Sekondi/Takoradi-Plymouth Link with support from a number of British health associations, including the European Hernia Society and CNR International that provided a grant of 10,000 Pounds towards the establishment of the project.

The ceremony coincided with the launch of this year's hernia week during which about 200 hernia patients in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis would receive free treatment.

A 12-member medical team from the UK arrived in Takoradi during the week to provide free treatment to hernia patients during the period. Major Courage Quashigah, Minister of Health who inaugurated the facility urged stakeholders to give health education priority attention to ensure that more people adopted healthy lifestyles.

Life expectancy in the country, he noted continues to register steady decline and said there must be a collaborative efforts to reverse the trend by focusing on the causes of diseases for effective planning to combat them.

The Minister commended the British High Commission, foreign and local institutions and other stakeholders for their support to the country's health sector.

The acting British High Commission, Mrs. Menna Rawlings in an address read for her said her country would continue to support Ghana to achieve development in all sectors, including health.

She said under the Sekondi-Takoradi-Plymouth Link, the health needs of the people in the metropolis would be assessed to enable the health committee of the Plymouth-Ghana Link to plan future health projects. She praised the Plymouth Hospital National Health Service Trust for providing drugs and health personnel to bring relief to hernia patients. When the hernia project was launched in 2005, more than 100 patients who could not afford the cost of hospital treatment benefited from free treatment.

Mr. Evans Anthony Amoah, Western Regional Minister pledged the Regional Coordinating Council's support to enhance the work of the hernia unit. He said the government would continue to improve health infrastructure as well as remuneration of health personnel in an effort to ensure healthy life for the people.

Mr. Philip Kwesi Nkrumah, Shama Ahanta East Metropolitan Chief Executive said in spite of financial constraints, the Metropolitan Assembly made significant investment to improve the health sector. He said since the signing of the Sekondi-Takoradi-Plymouth Sister-City Link three years ago, the people of the two cities have benefited tremendously from the exchange of ideas, cultures, and expertise in many fields. 22 Oct. 06