Wa, May 10, GNA - Mr. Ambrose Dery, Upper West Regional Minister on Wednesday expressed disappointment at the way people in the region were still maintaining some old traditions that continue to retard efforts to improve the health care system in the area.

He charged health workers in the region to step up their educational programmes and expose such people who still held on to outmoded practices in order to achieve their goals. Mr. Dery was addressing a Regional forum for stakeholders on Community Integrated Management of childhood illness (IMCI) at Wa. He expressed surprise that a borehole that was dug for a guinea-worm endemic community was abandoned with the reason that the water was not tasty.

He said the government's efforts to rid the communities of diseases could only be achieved if the community members embrace new health development trends.

The Regional Minister commended UNICEF, DANIDA and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) for their continuous support for Health Development in the upper West Region.

Dr. Daniel Yeyemain, Senior Medical Officer, said 208 infants out of every 1,000 live births in the region die of various diseases, a figure far above the national average of 111 per every 1,000. He said the figure indicated that the region was the highest in terms of infant mortality in the country, which needed to be reduced in the next few months to attract more workers to the area. He said malaria, anaemia and malnutrition were the major causes of infant mortality in the entire region and urged the public to adhere to personal hygiene to avoid diseases.

Dr. Easmund Otopre, a specialist in the IMCI programme, said more than 100 countries were practicing the system which brings together health workers and communities to identify their health problems and map out strategies to get rid of such diseases.