Accra, Nov. 28, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Wednesday inaugurated a four million-dollar ultra modern complex built for the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons in Accra with the challenge to help the nation out with medical specialists to deal with the upsurge of cases of hypertension and diabetes.

The Government, he said, was concerned about the rising incidence of these life-style diseases and was looking forward to the emergence of specializations to arrest the trend. "You should accept this as a foremost responsibility," he said at the ceremony, which also coincided with the institution's Fourth Annual General and Scientific Meeting.

The postgraduate medical college provides specialist education in medicine, surgery and related disciplines, promotes professional development and relevant research.

It started operating on December 9, 2003, with an initial intake of 64, which has risen to 110.

The new complex has facilities for an auditorium with a seating capacity of 750, a bookshop, library, simulation laboratory for teaching, examination hall, computer laboratory, boardroom, restaurant, gymnasium and bedrooms.

President Kufuor said what the owners of the College, the people of Ghana, expected from the heavy investment, was not just professional competence but also a touch of humanism and humility in the course of their medical practice.

"Indeed the people of this country expect nothing less than the missionary zeal that characterized the work of Albert Schweitzer in connection with care for lepers and Noguchi, who lost his life in this country while researching into yellow fever."

He said the Government appreciated that it took motivated health personnel to assure sustained health-care delivery. It would therefore continue to respond as best as possible to the concerns of health sector personnel of all grades.

President Kufuor pointed that if any sector deserved acknowledgement for its calling to serve society with love, dedication and humility, it was the health sector personnel alongside teachers. The government was doing all it could to improve their conditions and urged those in the sector to exercise restraint and not engage in actions that appeared to be holding society to ransom. Professor S. Ofosu-Amaah, President of the College, praised President Kufuor for his personal commitment and effort towards the promotion and advancement of medical sciences in the country, describing the College as one of the jewels of his Presidency. The Rector, Professor P.K. Nyame, said it was their vision to make the College a centre of choice of scientific medicine in the West African sub-region.