Sekondi, Sept. 9, GNA - The West African Training Cruise (WATC) of the United States Navy arrived at the Sekondi Naval base on Monday to begin an eight-day medical outreach programme.

Launching the programme Commodore C. B. Puplampu, Flag Officer Commanding the Western Naval Command, said the exercise is meant to forge closer working relations between the two navies and some civilian organisations.

Seventy Ghanaians, 55 US Army personnel and some civilians would participate in the programme.

He said their activities would cover eight communities in the Shama Ahanta East metropolis and cater for over a 1,000 people daily. Cdr. Puplampu said simple but very essential medical procedures, mass casualty drills and the provision of free medical care would be the major focus of the group.

Rear Admiral Jerry D. West of the Medical Service Corps, US Naval Reserve, said the State Department funded the medical outreach. He said the WATC brought drugs and medical equipment valued at 100,000 US dollars for the exercise, adding that, most of the equipment would be donated to the Ghana Navy.

Captain John S. Hughes, Leader of the team, said though the group are in Ghana to offer medical care for women, children and the aged, there is an educational programme attached to the exercise. He expressed his appreciation to the government of Ghana for the opportunity and said the programme would enhance both the safety and security of the two countries.

Capt. Hughes suggested that WATC should be divided into medical and social services groups to make its work easier and beneficial to more communities.