A day's trainer of trainers' workshop to prepare the Ghana Red Cross Society (GRCS) for effective handling of the H1N1 influenza has been held in Kumasi.
More than 40 regional secretaries and youth representatives of the society drawn from all over the country attended.
Dr Alhaji Ibn Ibrahim, Ashanti Regional Director of Health Service, praised the GRCS for its vision and the steps it is taking to prepare its members to deal with the influenza.
He said the Ghana Health Service (GHS) would work closely and share resources with the society to prevent the spread of the disease in the
country.
The regional director said "better health outcomes can only be achieved if there is well co-ordinated public health education campaign on disease prevention."
Professor Kwabena Mante Bosompem, National President of GRSC, said although GRCS played crucial role in every community in the country, lack of public support was hampering its activities.
He said the trend must change to enable the society to live up to its humanitarian role.
He said there was also the need for new strategic planning to build the capacity of the GRCS and ensure that it does not lose its focus.
Prof. Bosompem called for effective collaboration among the GHS, the Health Ministry and other health related agencies to enhance quality health care delivery.
Mr Andrews Frimpong, Secretary General of the GRSC, urged the participants to share the skills acquired.
Ghanaians, he advised, should be mindful of their medical status and to observe simple, but healthy practices such as washing the hands with soap to avoid contracting infectious diseases.
Dr Kwabena Opoku-Adusei, Ashanti Regional President, called on members to rekindle their voluntary spirit and to continue with their humanitarian services to society.