Minister
of Health and Social Welfare discusses improvements in national health services
through the education of Equatorial Guinean health care professionals
There is “a huge
effort from the Head of State and Government to purchase medicines, medical
supplies, and medical equipment, but we also need to ensure that management is
conducted responsibly, and we have people of integrity in leadership positions,”
according to the Minister of Health and Social Welfare of Equatorial Guinea,
Tomas Mecheba Fernández. Mecheba Fernández made his comments on the state of the
country’s health sector during an interview at the new headquarters of the
Ministry of Information, Press and Radio on September 20.
Equatorial Guinea is
looking forward to preparing a new generation of health care professionals, and
is currently conducting training courses aimed at improving the profession’s
capabilities. For instance, groups of medical students have traveled to
universities around the world, including those of Cuba, Morocco and China, to advance
their medical skills.
As an example of
increasing public health
efforts, the Minister said that Equatorial Guinea delivers food to the sick
in different cities such as Malabo, Bata, Baney, Riaba, Niefang, Kogo, and
Mbini, at a cost of more than eight million CFA francs each month. In terms of
the current health services offered in Equatorial Guinea, he said that the
number of operating clinics is sufficient and there are “two hospitals with
highly advanced medical technology.” He added that Equatorial Guinea is
carrying out a “vast program of renovation,
construction and equipping of the National Health Service.”
Equatorial
Guinea has also provided technical assistance to the local United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
to improve the effectiveness of its assistance program and has implemented a
host of health programs geared toward improving the health of Equatorial
Guineans. Basic health indicators such as rates of infant and child mortality
have been improving steadily in the country, and the government is widely
recognized for its efforts to eradicate malaria.
