President John Atta Mills on Friday expressed appreciation to the Cuban Medical Brigade for their invaluable services to deprived communities.
He appealed to the Ghanaians doctors who were unwilling to serve in needy communities for various reasons to take a cue from their Cuban counterparts.
He said the Cuban example was a demonstration of deep love for the people, and that should make an impression on Ghanaian health professionals to accept postings to the interior parts of the nation.
President Mills gave the commendation during an interaction with the a delegation of the Cuban Medical Brigade, Labiofam Entrepreneurial Group and Cubans lecturing Spanish at the University of Ghana and the Ghana Institute of Languages at the Osu Castle.
Labiofam Group is engaged in a mosquito and malaria control programme in the Brong Ahafo, Ashanti and Greater Accra Regions on pilot basis.
President Mills commended the large presence of the Cuban medical doctors, saying: “Your dedication and commitment to duty impresses me most.”
He said Cuba had been a friend to Ghana for years.
President Mills promised that his Administration would strengthen the already strong relations between the two nations during his term of office.
“Whatever challenges you face, we’ll sit down and look at them, so that we’ll able to remove the impediments for the success of your operations,” President Mills said.
Dr Miguel Perez Cruz, Cuban Ambassador, announced that his country was prepared to increase the number of Cuban doctors from 200 to 250.
He said steps were being taken for the construction of a factory for biolarvacide in Tamale.
Dr Cruz said a total of 1,179 Ghanaian students had graduated from Cuba at different levels of education, including 540 at the university level and 630 as technicians.
In the present academic 33 Ghanaian students are studying medicine, 13 in other universities, and three at the International Sports School.
Dr Phillipe Delgado, Leader of the Brigade, said the only problem the members faced in their assignments was that they miss their families back home.