Accra, Dec. 11, GNA - The Ministry of Health has initiated a Project to encourage Ghanaian health professionals residing in the Netherlands and the European Union countries to come home and work during their leave.

The Project, "Migration for Development in Africa", carried out by International Organisation for Migration (IOM), would enable them to transfer their knowledge, skills and other resources through short assignments when they are on holidays.

Dr Gladys Ashitey, a Deputy Minister of Health, said the project formed part of efforts to mitigate the effects of the brain drain affecting health care delivery. She was speaking at the signing of an Aide Memoir with The Netherlands Government in Accra on Monday. She said the Project, which would last for two-and-a-half years and subject to renewal, would facilitate the temporary and longer-term return of about 30 Ghanaians in the Diaspora; facilitate training of about 20 health professionals from Ghana in The Netherlands and help to build networks and cooperation between health organizations in Ghana and those in The Netherlands.

The duration of the assignment on the average would range from three weeks to three months and would focus on the needs of the regional and other 20 hospitals in medical, nursing, administration and technical areas of health care delivery.

Dr Ashitey said the Project would ensure that health professionals abided by the rules and regulations.

Mr Davide Terzi, Chief of Mission of the IOM, said the Project was based on the specific needs of hospitals in Ghana. He said applicants would go through screening to ascertain their true identity before being accepted.

He said the IOM would offer financial support to professionals from the Diaspora to cover the cost of travel, living allowance, travel insurance and visa.