Accra June 27, GNA- Major Courage Quashigah (Rtd), Minister of Health on Tuesday said good nutrition, intake of more water, regular exercising and enough rest was the antidote for good health. He said the reversal of these would lead to an increase in preventable diseases among the populace.

The Minister therefore urged the public not be swayed by constant advertisements of alcohol, high consumption of meat and fatty foods on display.

Opening a training of Change Agents on regenerative health and nutrition at Ada in the Dangme East District, Major Quashigah deplored the way physical Education as a subject was becoming optional in various schools.

The workshop brought together students, opinion leaders, traditional rulers and other health officials in the district, who are expected to be taken through topics on good nutrition and consumption of high intake of plants as a way of curbing diseases.

The Ministry of Health in collaboration with African Hebrew Development Agency organized the pilot programme.

Major Quashigah said currently the nation was loosing money in controlling some preventable disease such as malaria. Citing the World Health Organisation (WHO) Report for 2006, the Minister said 42 countries had been described as malaria endemic, adding that, those countries were spending 12 billion dollars annually on diseases.

Giving a break down, the Minister noted that each country was spending over 286 million dollars on malaria excluding the cost of mosquito cream, sprays and coils.

He said the nation had gradually embraced some western lifestyles, which had led to the se in disease such as cancer and diabetics. The Minister expressed concern over the nation's life expectancy, which was now at 57, and urged all to strive to heed to information on good health and nutrition to reverse the trend.

He also appealed to scientists to share knowledge on good health in order to improve the nation's health status. Giving an overview of the district health profile, Dr Justice A Hoffman, District Director for Health Service said Out Patient Department (OPD) attendance in 2006 increased as result of the introduction of the National Health Insurance Scheme. Dr Hoffman said malaria cases topped the list. On HIV/AIDS, Dr Hoffman said in 2006, 214 males and 262 females tested positive to the pandemic, saying the worse affected fell in the productive age group.

He said 708 antenatal registrants were teenagers, saying that was a serious trend, which needed to be redressed. On nutrition, Dr Hoffman said the district recorded 45.4 per cent of people with stunted growth, whiles 46.6 per cent were under weight. He appealed to Ministry of Health to assist the district with staff and a generator to work on seven islands in the district as well as vehicles to facilitate work of health personnel.

Mr Israel Narh Barko, District Chief Executive, Dangme East, noted that good nutrition and exercise contributed to economic development and urged all to resolve to support people to change their lifestyles. He called for the rejuvenation of Keep Fit Clubs in the area. Dr Ahmediel Ben Yehuda, head of the African Hebrew Development Agency, said regenerative health and Nutrition was a community-based programme, which needed to be supported by all.

Dr Yehuda, who is also a Healthy Lifestyles and Behavioural Change Specialist noted that in Israel, plant, including vegetables and fruits had been used as sources of good nutrition and same could be replicated in Ghana. 27 June 07