Mr. Kofi Annan, a former Secretary General of the United Nations (UN), has underscored health as an important ingredient in the sustenance of life and productivity. He therefore stressed the need for the government to adopt effective and pragmatic health policies to help improve the health status of the people, especially women and children. Mr. Annan was speaking at a durbar organized by the Ashanti Regional Directorate of Health Services during the visit of the UN Foundation Board of Directors at Old Tafo in Kumasi at the weekend. The delegation, led by Mr. Annan and Mr. Ted Turner, Founder and Chairman of the Foundation, was in Kumasi at the invitation of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asanthene. The durbar was aimed at sensitizing the people on the need to patronize the immunization exercise against measles scheduled for November 3 to 6. He said the UN Foundation formed in 1998, was aimed at raising the awareness on the need for innovative partnerships between governments, civil society and the private sector with the UN to address global challenges. Mr. Annan expressed happiness about the efforts being made by the government towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Mr Timothy Wirth, President of the Foundation, said the Board of Directors of the Foundation was highly impressed by the measures being put in place to ensure the success of the MDGs. He gave the assurance that the Foundation would continue to support the country towards achieving success in the MDGs to reduce poverty and improve the health needs of the people. Nana Agyen Frimpong II, Tafohene, lauded the hard work of the UN Foundation Board of Directors for their concerns towards improving the health status of people especially those in the developing countries. He appealed to health authorities to attach importance to immunization of children against measles and other childhood diseases to ensure the growth of children. Mrs. Cynthia Sackey, a Nursing Officer at the Tafo Government Hospital, said the nation-wide immunization of children against measles would cover children from nine months to five years. She said supervisors and volunteers had already been trained to undertake the exercise and urged mothers to patronize the exercise and immunize their children. The members of the Foundation later visited the Manhyia District Government Hospital in Kumasi to acquaint themselves with its progress and development. Source: GNA