The Kwahu Traditional Council has held a durbar in honour of the members of Association of Black Cardiologists visiting the country at Pepease in the Kwahu South district. The members of the association, made up of Americans, Jamaicans, Nigerians and Ghanaian cardiologists were visiting the country to assess cardio-vascular problems facing the people and help solve them. Addressing the durbar, the Kwahu South District Director of Health Services, Dr. Joseph Larbi Opare said the district, with a population of 173,162 has 20 health facilities, including a District hospital, community clinics and reproductive and child health centres with five doctors, 190 nurses and other para-medical staffs manning the facilities. He said, the HIV/Aids prevalence rate among the youthful population of 15 to 24 years was about 3.7 per cent while malaria was the major cause of morbidity and mortality in the district with maternal mortality also continue to cause the lost of lives of pregnant women, adding that, six women lost their lives during delivery last year. Dr. Opare appealed for the up-grading of the Pepease health centre to hospital status to provide a comprehensive health service delivery to the people. The Omanhene of the Kwahu Traditional Area, Daasebre Akuamoah Boateng, II, appealed for some medical equipment for the establishment of a laboratory and a theatre at the Pepease health centre to ensure early diagnosis of diseases. He said, this would save patients from traveling 16 kilometres to the Kwahu Government Hospital at Atibie for laboratory tests and surgeries to prevent complication of cases. Daasebre Boateng advised the youth and school children from the area to emulate the achievement of Dr William Ntim, a citizen from Pepease and a member of the Association and show maximum interest in their education. The leader of the association, Dr. Gerald Devaughn said, members of the association realized that their ancestors were from Africa and have decided to return to their roots to assess the health problems of the people and help solve them. He said, the association was made up of 600 members of the black race who were contributing to solve the health needs of people in Africa. Source: GNA