A National Day of the Sick has been launched in Dzodze in the Ketu North district of the Volta Region with a call on Ghanaians to show compassion towards the sick and the needy in society.

The event held at the St Anthony Hospital in Dzodze saw Catholic Bishops and health workers taking part in the exercise.

The theme for this year's National Day of the Sick is "Eyes to the blind and feet to the lame".

In a speech, the National Catholic Health Director, George Adjei, said health care provision has undergone rapid change driven by diverse issues ranging from disease patterns, health, technology, increasing specialization in the medical fields among others. He said Catholic health institutions are at the forefront of adapting to these changes in health care delivery.

He added that a high number of health professionals working in Catholic health facilities are non- Catholics, some even non-Christians even though most of them share in the church values and ethics -- a reflection of the adaptability of the Church's health facilities to society's health needs .

According to Mr Adjei, leaders and managers of the Catholic health service nationwide are finding new ways to promote the teachings of the church in health institutions.

The Diocesan Director of Health, Christian Akoto Brown admonished health workers to do more for mankind.

Episcopal Chairman for health Bishop Joseph Afrifah-Agyekum also urged Christians to be more prayerful.

The World Day of the Sick was instituted by St John Paul II in 1992, and celebrated every year on the Feast of Our Lady Lourdes -- February 11.

Also present at the program was the vice President of Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference and the Bishop for Keta-Akatsi Diocese Bishop Anthony Kwame Adanuty.