Government is finalizing an arrangement with The Earth Institute of the Colombia University to train about 3,000 youth in skills development programme in the health sector.

When it is finalized, the skills development programme will be led by Jeffrey Sachs under the health assistance model of the new improved Youth Employment Agency.

Prof Sachs is the Director of The Earth Institute, Quetelet Professor of Sustainable Development, and Professor of Health Policy and Management at Columbia University in the United States.

 He is also a Special Advisor to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the Millennium Development Goals.

Employment and Labour Relations Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, revealed the arrangement with The Earth Institute after a meeting with a delegation from Institute in Tamale.

Haruna Iddrisu said the training will help the youth to play a supporting role in the health sector to attain the millennium development and post sustainable goals to deal with infant and maternal mortality.

“Subject to budgetary allocation, we intend that by the last quarter of this year, we expect to take off with a major launch of the programme”, he said.

He further revealed that the programme would be launched with 500 youth trainees.

Prof Jeffrey Sachs commended the government for the initiative. He said the health training concept will make a huge impact in the lives of the youth of the country.