The World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr Ebrahim Samba on Thursday reiterated that an accelerated economic growth and development was the best way to promote good health.

"Poverty and poor nutrition in developing countries make it difficult to counter the scourge of diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and related diseases," he said on arrival at the airport for a three-day working visit.

Dr Samba, therefore, urged developing countries to step up their economic development and the developed nations to scale up their financial assistance to poor nations to enable them to deliver good health services to its people. He described Ghana's health services as positive saying the authorities were aware of the health problems and were working hard to solve them.

The Regional Director said his visit would enable him to discuss Ghana's current health situation and how best WHO could assist. On the AIDS menace, Dr samba said WHO was collaborating with pharmaceutical companies to produce affordable anti-retroviral drugs to help prolong the life span of patients as well as try to prevent mother-to-child infection.

He said WHO was also collaborating with government and health-related agencies to remove the stigma associated with AIDS and to let people know that it was a disease that could be curtailed.

Whilst in the country he would visit Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital as well as WHO sponsored projects including Bawjiase Orphanage in the Central Region. Dr Merville George, WHO Representative and Dr Kofi Ahmed, Chief Medical Officer, Ministry of Health met Dr Samba at the airport.

Aliu holds discussions with WHO Africa Director

Vice President Aliu Mahama on Thursday reiterated the government's commitment to make health care delivery more accessible to Ghanaians by eliminating the "Cash and Carry" system and upgrading health facilities.

Health insurance schemes to replace the Cash and Carry system are operational on pilot basis in 40 districts, Vice President Mahama said when he held discussions with the visiting World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr Ebrahim Malick Samba at the Castle, Osu.

Dr Samba, a Gambian, arrived in Accra on Thursday for a three-day duty tour, during which he would visit the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and a WHO-funded Orphanage at Bawjiase in the Central region.

Vice President Mahama told Dr Samba that the government had allocated funds to improve upon facilities at the Teaching Hospital, saying that President John

Agyekum Kufuor recently inspected facilities and announced a 77.3 billion-cedi rehabilitation package.

Fifty billion cedis of the amount would be used to rehabilitate and refurbish the Medical Block. The theatre at the Maternity Block would also be rehabilitated with 4.8 billion cedis, while 22.5 billion cedis would be spent on accommodation for staff.

Vice President Mahama commended Dr Samba for his immense support to Ghana's health sector, particularly in the treatment of malaria and onchocerciasis, saying the WHO and Ghana had enjoyed excellent relations. "You are working hard towards the development of the human race through health delivery and your efforts are appreciated," he said.

Dr Samba, who attended Achimota College and the University of Ghana, said he considered his support for Ghana as a token of appreciation for what he received from the country, adding that Ghana helped to make him what he was today.

He said the country sacrificed so much resource towards the liberation of other countries and Ghana deserved a pay back. "I was here and I saw the sacrifices. Perhaps what was lost can never be repaid," he said.

Dr Samba was first elected WHO Regional Director of Africa in 1995 and re-elected in 1999.The 60 year-old medical doctor, has received international commendation for his work in the control of onchocerciasis, having served as the Director of Onchocerciasis Control Programme in West Africa from 1980 to 1994.

With him at the meeting were: Dr Merville George, WHO Representative in Ghana, Dr Kwaku Afriyie, Minister of Health and other officials of WHO and the Ministry of Health.