Government urged to finance regenerative health, nutrition Programme

Government was on Tuesday urged to set aside five per cent of the National Health Insurance Fund to finance the Ministry of Health’s Regenerative Health and Nutrition Programme. A communiqué issued by 150 participants at the end of a two-day review exercise on the programme at Mankessim in the Central Region, also called for the establishment of a national commission to manage the programme. The participants advocated a national policy on cultivation of fruits and vegetables as well as the production of regenerative health foods at reasonable prices. According to the communiqué made available to the GNA, participants welcomed the introduction of the programme as a holistic approach to help promote health and prevent diseases in the country but called for intensive sensitization. It said using rural based media to transmit messages about the programme in local dialects and empowering opinion leaders to educate their people on health would go a long way to promote the campaign. The communiqué appealed to the Ghana Health Service (GES) to institutionalize the programme, provide education and establish regenerative health centres and to integrate regenerative foods in hospital feeding programmes. The statement said whiles building the capacity of the people effecting change, they should personally promote the campaign at their homes and communities and mobilize the people to establish keep fit clubs, regenerative centres and clubs in schools. The communiqué asked traditional authorities and religious leaders to spearhead the campaign and the district, municipal and metropolitan assemblies to fiancé the programme with one per cent of the District Assembly Common Fund and integrate the programme into all their activities. It implored the GES to reintroduce Physical Education in school activities and introduce regenerative foods in the School Feeding Programme. The participants commended Major Courage Quarshigah (Rtd) for introducing the programme and pledged their support for it. Major Quarshigah, officials of the Ministry of Health, district chief executives, and traditional rulers, and other stakeholders attended the review meeting.