H.E President J.A. Kufour in 2001 espoused his vision for this country, which is to move Ghana into a middle income status by the year 2015. As Minister of Health, I reflected on this vision, and consulted widely on how the health sector can contribute to this vision. Four simple but powerful messages emerged from this exercise.

health creates wealth.

You would agree with me that ill-health retards socio-economic development and leads to poverty. Improving health leads to saving money which otherwise is expended on treating preventable diseases and avoidable injuries at the individual, family and national levels. The money and other resources that are freed up can be invested in other sectors such as education, infrastructure, agriculture, etc. at the national level, whilst individuals and families increase the level of their disposable incomes.

Let us take the example of malaria to demonstrate this point. The World health Organisation (WHO) statistics indicate that the 42 malaria-endemic countries spend 12 billion dollars a year as direct cost of treatment, which works out to 268 million dollars a year for each country, including Ghana. If we should add the indirect cost such as transportation to health facilities, labour days lost by patients and care-givers and other preventive measures like coils, nets, creams and herbal treatment, the cost could increase to about 500 million dollars a year. And this is just for the treatment of malaria.

Imagine if we could save just 40% of this money, allowing it to be freed up for investment in other productive enterprises.

You would also agree with me that healthy, strong, intelligent and active human capital is more productive, creates more wealth and contributes to an increase in Gross National Income. Among other factors, the health status of any population determines its level of productivity and economic development exemplified by countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, and Morocco.

You would again agree with me that improved health and nutritional status in children ensures their physical and mental development and lays the basis for a more productive nation in future. Research has proven that the quality of nutrition children are exposed to from the fetal stage to the first five years of their lives contribute to their IQ levels in the future.

This puts the health sector right at the centre of economic growth and hence the theme for our new Health Policy, which is “CREATING WEALTH THROUGH HEALTH”.

medical care is necessary but that alone is not sufficient for improving health.

We would continue to invest in medical services to deal with the current disease burden. Government has in the last couple of years increased resources to the health sector, including the introduction of the NHIS to remove the financial barrier to access to medical care. However, our resources are no match for the sheer volume or communicable, non-communicable diseases and injuries, most of which are preventable.

a hygienic, sanitized environment and healthy lifestyles produce health.

Everything in life including the human body is regulated by the natural laws of cause and effect. Our bodies have in-build mechanisms for self-preservation, growth and development, involving a cycle of appropriation of food, assimilation of nutrients, and elimination of waste. A lifestyle that breaks these laws is a lifestyle that sets in motion a degeneration process of health. Ignorance of the law is no excuse for its consequences.

How many people for instance are aware that most of the diseases that afflict us emanate from our filthy environment?
How many people know that a heavy meal in the morning saps our energy as opposed to the general belief that its provides us with energy to work?
How many people know that plan-based protein is of higher quality than that of meat?
How many people know that eating fruits before meals aids digestive process as opposed to eating as dessert after meals?
How many people know that combining certain food groups create more health problems than can be imagined?

You are what you eat!!

We are sick because of what we are eating, how we are eating and when we are eating.

multi-sectoral action is required to improve health.

We need roads to make our health facilities accessible,
water to eradicate water-borne and water-related diseases, healthy homes, workplaces and schools.
parks for recreation and exercise, and,
adequate and nutritious food to reduce stunting and obesity

For these reasons, my Ministry is working more closely with the Ministry of Education to ensure that students are healthy and are health literate. We are working with the Ministry of Works and Housing to improve access to water and ensure safe housing. We are working with the Ministries of Food and Agriculture and Fisheries to produce good quality and nutritious food for the population.

We need to work more closely with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, and Environment, Science and Technology to ensure healthy environment. We need to work with the Ministry of Road Transport to make our roads safe and make medical care more accessible. We need to work with Civil Society Organizations, non-governmental organizations, and faith-based organizations to put more pressure on other Ministries, Departments and Agencies whose activities impact on health to improve their collaboration with the Ministry of Health.

Let me summarize the four messages of the new Health Policy dubbed “CREATING WEALTH THROUGH HEALTH”.
These are:

Today, we have the opportunity to lay the foundation for improving the health of our children and creating wealth and sustaining it for the future benefit of our children’s children. I call on you not to let this opportunity slip by. Now is the time to make the decision. Health cannot wait. I hope that you make the right decision.

THANK YOU.