QUASHIGAH PUTS GHANA IN THE LEAD IN HEALTHY LIFESTYLE – AU DECLARES

27th February 2009 passed without Ghana commemorating Africa Healthy Lifestyle Day even though the AU Commission had issued directives to its member's states and Ghana was no exception.

“The Commission of the African Union presents its compliments to the Ministries of Foreign Affairs/External Relations and Regional Cooperation of all AU Members States and has the honour to refer to the decision No. EX. CL. Dec. 436 (XIII) adopted by the AU Executive Council in July 2008 (attached). The last Friday of February each year was declared AFRICA HEALTHY LIFESTYLES DAY. This was adopted in a framework of the WHO Strategy Prevention and Control of Non Communicable Disease. In this connection, Member States are reminded to plan advocacy/ educational programmes to mark the 1st Africa Healthy Life Styles Day on 27th February 2009”.

This was the opening paragraph of a letter sent to the Foreign Affairs Directorates of member countries from Addis Ababa on the 16th of February 2009.

But nothing came out. The question is who received the letter at the Ghana's Foreign Ministry and why was the Health Ministry not informed.

Activist Forum for the New Ghana sees th e rational for this move and the recommended interventions and guidelines in the celebration sounded like what the Former Minister of Health, Major Quashigah had been preaching and championing during his tenure of office as Ghana's Health Minister.

Ghana should have jumped at this and claimed the credits for it because the idea actually originated from the Star of Africa, Ghana.

When one reads the rational and recommended interventions and guidelines, one would cast his or her mind back on the presentation made by Major Quashigah at a media briefing in Accra at the Ghana's Ministry of Information in October 2005 titled “Creating Wealth Through Health” in which it recommended a new paradigm shift in health care delivery in Ghana with focus on promoting health education, prevention of diseases and avoidance of accidents (domestic, industrial and traffic accidents) which he believed will save the country large sums of money spent treating these preventable diseases and avoidable injuries.

He also argued that in pursuit of this initiative the country can be assured of healthy human capital that can live longer, be more productive and create wealth.

Activist Forum for the New Ghana through it research has concluded that this idea of healthy lifestyle through good nutrition and physical activity has also been adequately captured in the Ghana' s National Health Policy developed in 2007 under the distinguished leadership of Major Quashigah.

The scripture says “A prophet is not without honour save in his own country” The outside world has seen wisdom in what Major Quashigah stated. We must however admit that, the message has spread throughout Ghana leading to a large number of Ghanaians becoming very mindful of what they eat these days and a lot of keep fit clubs springing up every blessed day.

We at Activist Forum for the New Ghana, a youth think tank, believes a lot can be done to keep Ghana in the lead this time, since in the end all the credit goes to Ghana and not Quashigah because he is working for Ghana as an illustrious son of our motherland.

The next commemoration which falls on the last Friday 2010, Ghana must develop an elaborate programme to celebrate a whole week prior to the to actual day to let the world see that Ghana is really the driving seat as far as the idea of healthy lifestyle is concerned.

It is also important for institution tasked with responsibilities discharged duly to ensure that hope and future are brought to the door steps of all and sundry.

It is our hope that all stakeholders in health delivery in Ghana will live up to the exigencies of today's health needs of Ghanaians and for that matter Africans. We also advise government to pay particular attention to NHIS to ensure its smooth and effective administration.

Long live patriotic health professionals
Long live Ghanaians
Long live all activists
Long live the world

God bless us all.

SIGNED
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Senior Activist Stephen Asiedu
ACTIVIST FORUM FOR THE NEW GHANA