U.S President Barrack Obama has assured Ghana of America’s support to help the country fight the scourge of preventable diseases with particular reference to malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS amongst others.

The assistance according to Barrack Obama is an attempt by his administration to help improve health standards not only in Ghana, but across the African continent.

U.S Under Secretary of State for Africa Affairs, John Carson made this known when he called on President Mills at his suite in the Ugandan capital Kampala, where he is attending the 15 Ordinary Session of the AU Summit.

He said President Barrack Obama is concerned about the effects of preventable diseases on the development of African Economies hence his commitment to help tackle it.

President Obama’s announcement to work closely with Ghana over these common challenges comes on the sidelines of the African leaders meeting in Uganda, to discuss issues of maternal, infant and child health in Africa.

Under Secretary of State John Carson said the US values its partnership with Ghana hence this collaboration.

‘‘President Obama is committed to helping Africa in the international community to improve its global health standings especially for women and young children. He is committed to continuing the enormous successful aids programme and also to do more to combat diseases that are easily preventable and that should not in effect, kill women and children in these days’’ he said.

You have our support, and the Union has our support in dealing with the challenges of healthcare provision in Africa, and we want to be a strong partner and a collaborator with Africa. And of course we particularly, want to work with Ghana, a country that the President has identified as one of our closest partners, friends and collaborators on the African continent’’. He noted.

Meanwhile President Mills has described the assistance as timely as African Leaders are discussing issues of maternal and child health, towards the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals four and five before the target date of 2015.

President Mills was full of praise for Barrack Obama on the contents of his message delivered to the African Union by US Attorney General.

‘‘This gives us an opportunity to think about how to raise the living standards of our people which after all is the only reason why we are in power as political leaders. So at least, he gives us an opportunity to reflect on what we want to do, where we are, where we want to go and what it takes to achieve our objectives’’. He said.

‘‘The Attorney General’s message was very powerful and a reassuring one. I believe that he covered all the important areas and later drew attention to the challenges facing us and the need for us to have a greater collaboration with one another, and then remain focused with common objectives. And I was very glad that he touched on a very important issue such as security, and the assurance that everybody is up to help. We thank him and President Obama’’. He said.

Meanwhile the debate on the theme of the AU meeting in Kampala continues with African Leaders of Ethiopia, South Africa, Botswana, Senegal and Mauritius, explaining policies and programmes they hope to put in place to eradicate common diseases among women and children.
 

Citi FM