A deputy Health Minister, Abraham Dwumah Odoom, has announced that plans are far advanced to increase the intake of students into the country's health training institutions. This, he said, would help to improve on the health care delivery system, even in the face of severe resource constraints. According to him, such a commitment has become necessary considering the persistent challenges that have the potential to derail the health sector's strategy of creating wealth through good health. In a speech read on his behalf at the closing ceremony of 'Training of Trainers' workshop for tutors in Community Health Schools at the University of Cape Coast recently, the Minister said the increase in the intake of students would produce more healthcare assistants for the various health centres in the country. The six-day workshop, sponsored jointly by the USAID in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, was attended by over 30 Community Health Planning Services (CHIPS) nationwide. Mr. Odoom said even though his ministry was expanding training institutions and motivating health tutors to give of their best, there was the need for all stakeholders to support health institutions in the country since the government alone could not do everything. He was grateful to USAID for its immense contributions towards the health sector and revealed that about 150 CHIPS Zones in the country have already been supported by the USAID since its (CHIPS) introduction in 2001. The Deputy Minister therefore called for more of such seminars, lectures and other educational programmes to improve on the expertise of health tutors in the country. Madam Patricia R.Y Odoi, a Tutor at the Esiama Community Health School, mentioned some of the problems confronting health training institutions as lack of field site for field attachments and limited opportunities for continued education for tutors, and appealed to the government to come to their aid. Source: Daily Guide