The Ministry of Health (MoH) is negotiating with Cuba to build a factory in Ghana to produce biolarvicides, the needed ingredients for biological elimination of malaria parasites. The MOH has therefore signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Labiofam Group Limited of Cuba under the National Malaria Control programme to produce the biolarvicides. Malaria is the leading cause of death in Ghana and causes huge economic burden for the health sector. The production of biolarvicides is being run on a pilot bases and is covering Greater Accra, Brong Ahafo and Ashanti Regions. Mr. Joseph Yieleh Chireh, Minister of Health made this known when he addressed the Second National Scientific Congress of Cuban Medical Brigade in Accra on Thursday. The congress was aimed at allowing Cuban doctors working in Ghana to present the research works they have carried out on the main diseases affecting Ghanaians. The research findings were in the area of non-communicable diseases which have become a major burden worldwide. The research material will serve as a policy guide for policy-makers to make informed decisions. The congress was attended by the current 183 Cuban medical team working in nine regions of Ghana. Mr. Chireh noted that friendship between Ghana and Cuba dated as far back as 1950, adding that Ghana had recognised the crucial role played by Cuba in rendering quality health services to Ghanaians. He said it was worth commending the Cuban Medical Brigade for accepting postings to the remote areas of Ghana despite the lack of some basic social infrastructural facilities. He lauded Cuba for increasing the number of medical officers from 54 in Ghana to 200 in 2011. Mr. Chireh said government was negotiating with Cuba to recruit 244 high level professionals and specialists to complement Ghana’s efforts to provide quality healthcare. “In addition we are also asking Cuba to train 250 new Ghanaian doctors in Cuba who will come back and serve in the rural communities.” He commended Cuba for the valuable assistance it was giving to Ghana in the fields of health, agriculture, sports, education, science and technology. The Minister presented eight pickups to the Cuban regional coordinators to enhance their delivery of quality medical care to Ghanaians. Dr Miguel Perez Cruz, Cuban Ambassador to Ghana commended Ghana for the warm reception given to Cubans working in the country and pledged his country’s continuous support in helping the country to deliver quality health care to the people especially those in the rural communities. He said the biolarvicides project, had become a model in the West African sub-region and has been adopted by the Economic Community of West Africa. “Currently, it has started in Nigeria, Burkina Faso and conditions are being prepared in other countries as well as building factories in Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana.” He urged Cubans in Ghana to remain committed to hard work. Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng who made a presentation on “Cancer and Infectious Diseases in Africa,” said infections according to the World Health Organisation have been identified as causes of cancers. He said bacteria and parasites were the two agents of infections and called for the need to combat it in order to reduce cancer cases. Mr. Kofi Portuphy, Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation, who spoke on “Health and Disasters,” stressed the need for government to invest in the prevention of emergencies. Dr Felipe Delgado Bustillo, Dean of the Cuban Medical Brigade, who spoke on the “Contribution of the Regional Cuban Medical Brigade to the Scientific Knowledge Management” outlined the services rendered by the Cuban team in the nine regions of the country and called on their Ghanaian counterparts to be more involved in their regional scientific conferences in order to share experiences. Source: GNA