Government committed to eradicating malaria

The President has used the platform of the opening of new offices for the College of Physicians and Surgeons to express his concens about malaria.

The nation cannot afford the GH¢664.6 million (772 million dollars) being the economic cost per year of containing and eradicating malaria, President J.A. Kufuor said.

Nevertheless, the government is committed to the unrelenting war on the disease through both preventive and curative measures, he said.

Speaking at the opening of the permanent office and other facilities of the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons in Accra yesterday, President Kufuor said besides malaria, the government will continue with the fight against HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis as well as water-borne diseases such as buruli ulcer and guinea-worm infestation.

The four-million dollar edifice has a 750 capacity auditorium, a restaurant, bookshop, examination hall, library, computer laboratory, a simulation laboratory for teaching, board room and rooms for accommodation of students.

The inauguration of the building formed part of the activities of the collage's fourth Annual General Scientific Meeting of the college being held under the theme: "Championing African Excellence in Health."

President Kufuor said that the government was concerned about the rising incidence of lifestyle diseases like hypertension and diabetes and added that the nation was looking forward to the college for the emergence of specialisations to arrest the trend.

He said though the government appreciates that it takes motivated health personnel to assure sustained health care, it was unfortunate that society could not pay them enough for their invaluable service.

He therefore urged all concerned to exercise restraint and not to engage in actions that could hold society to ransom.

Noting that the nature of the edifice attested to the heavy investment made in the institution he reminded the trainees and residents of the importance of persistence and tenacity in pursuing the training programmes

"What the owners of this college, who are the people of this country, expect of you is not only professional competence, but also a touch of humanism and humility in the course of your practice," he said.

The president of the college, Professor Samuel Ofosu-Amoah, expressed gratitude to the president for his personal interest which led to the successful completion of the project.

He was hopeful that the college will fulfil its primary obligation of producing qualified personnel to man the country's health sector.

The Rector of the college, Professor Paul K. Nyame, said the college will provide specialist education in medicine, surgery and related disciplines.

The magnificent building which has been attracting admiring comments from the public, was designed by Osei-Kufuor, Soehne and Partners, consulting architects of Accra.