President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday commended the Iran Clinic for services they had over the years rendered to Ghanaians in the Greater Accra Region and beyond.

"Apart from supporting education and other sectors, the establishment of the Iran Clinic had over the years helped to provide health services to the people of Adabraka, Nima, Maamobi and Accra New town, areas that are somehow deprived in health services among others," he said.

President Mahama gave the commendation when he inaugurated the new Iran Clinic, which had been upgraded from a clinic into a hospital status after 25 years of service.

Established by the Islamic Republic of Iran 25 years ago, the Iran Clinic had provided health services to numerous Ghanaians with quality healthcare at subsidised rates.

The upgrading of the facility from a clinic into a hospital is to scale up services to include, those that were non-existent in the past for Ghanaians, irrespective of their geographical location.

President Mahama said the establishment of the facility would further deepen the relations between Ghana and the Arab country and urged the workers to perform their duties diligently to mirror out the image of Ghana and Iran that had been a shining example since independence.

On Cholera, President Mahama condemned open defecation, which he said, was the major cause of the outbreak of the disease in some parts of the country for over a month now.

"Cholera is mainly caused by open defecation and good and quality health begin from our homes, and that is why I want to once again urge all of you to maintain personal hygiene in your homes to avoid this disease," President Mahama added.

He maintained that, if personal hygiene was carried out throughout the year by cleaning surroundings, it would help government to spend more money on development projects, rather than procuring medications for cholera patients annually.

Dr Mohammed Farrahdeen, President of the Iranian RedCross Society said the upgrading of the facility would empower the staff to churn out better and quality services to Ghanaians.

He said apart from services in the facility, they would also offer support to Ghanaians in times of disasters and other natural occurrences.

The Iranian Red Cross President said more than 30 of such Clinics were established in over 20 countries, with the African continent being the major beneficiary.

Mr Mohammad Solemani, Iranian Ambassador to Ghana said Ghana and Iran had over the years enjoyed partnership in the areas of health and education and hoped President Mahama would one day pay a reciprocal visit to Iran, since the Iranian President had already visited Ghana over a year ago.