Equatorial Guinea Investing in Healthcare

MALABO, Equatorial Guinea, Sept. 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Voice of America (VOANews.com)   reports that Equatorial Guinea's Minister of Health, Francisco Pascual Obama Asue, said the government is working closely with the World Health Organization and putting up health infrastructure as well as implementing a host of health programs geared towards improving the health of Equatorial Guineans.

The Minister of Health said "the first investment began in 1996, and since then the government started investing in hospitals and other health centers. In Bata on (the coast), a very modern hospital was built called La Paz and it actually has all the modern technologies and is staffed by Israeli doctors. There also are a number of health centers under construction," reported Voice of America (VOANews.com).

As reported by Voice of America (VOANews.com), Minister Obama Asue said the government has adopted the recent WHO resolutions as part of the administration's efforts to improve public health for its people. Equatorial Guinea recently hosted a WHO regional committee meeting in the capital, Malabo.

In addition, the Minister of Health was quoted saying, "the government has been working hard to improve public health for its citizens in projects such as a malaria program, reproductive program with the UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund), cholera and measles vaccination campaigns, social development fund, and new hospitals," according to Voice of America (VOANews.com) reports.

Voice of America (VOANews.com) reports the WHO resolutions adopted included: (1) establishing an African Fund for Public Health Emergencies, (2) Addressing major determinants of health, (3) reducing harmful use of alcohol (which calls on member states to develop and strengthen national policies and international evidence to adopt and implement regulations and legislation to create public awareness about the damage from alcohol),  (4) using cyber health in the African region, which requires member states to promote political commitment and awareness in this area, and (5) strengthening routine immunization activities for polio eradication in the African region.

Minister Obama Asue said the government has taken measures to curb the abuse of alcoholism among the youth, reports Voice of America (VOANews.com).

"The government has issued a law forbidding the consumption or sale of alcohol to minors that is those under the age of 18 years old. The government has put in place an increase in the tax in the importation of alcohol into the country. And the government is working with the World Health Organization to receive technical assistance to develop and design new policies on the abuse of alcohol and how to prevent it."

About Equatorial Guinea

The Republic of Equatorial Guinea (Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial) is the only Spanish-speaking country in Africa, and one of the smallest nations on the continent. In the late-1990s, American companies helped discover the country's oil and natural gas resources, which only within the last five years began contributing to the global energy supply. Equatorial Guinea is now working to serve as a pillar of stability and security in its region of West Central Africa. The country will host the 2011 Summit of the African Union. For more information, visit http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com.

This has been distributed by Qorvis Communications, LLC on behalf of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea. More information on this relationship is on file at the United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC.

SOURCE Republic of Equatorial Guinea

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