Mr Julius Debrah, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, has appealed to chiefs and other community leaders to do more to create environmental consciousness to get their people to work together to promote preventive health measures.

This, he said, was necessary to help significantly reduce the spread of diseases and infections.

He said although construction of health facilities were marks of development, it was always better for people to take proactive measures to prevent conditions that would make them sick or lead to disease outbreak.

Mr. Debrah was inaugurating a community clinic at Kunka as part of his working visit to the Obuasi Municipality.

Work on the GH¢ 264, 000 facilities started in May, and was financed by the assembly through the District Development Facility (DDF).

It has a maternity ward, family planning centre, children’s ward, consulting rooms and dispensary.

Mr. Debrah also inspected construction works on the redevelopment of the Horsey lorry terminal at Obuasi.

The GH¢ 4.5 million project, involves improvement work on the pavement, building of about 81 new stores, a retail filling station, washrooms and other facilities.

It is being implemented under a Public Private Partnership arrangement (PPP).

Mr. Debrah also inspected works on a GH¢ 219,000 High Court, the rehabilitation of a two-kilometre road at new Nyamebekyere and new light industrial area built to resettle artisans.