Ministry of health and sanitation in collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO) has started a four-day training session for health staff in health promotion.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the workshop yesterday held at the Council of Churches Sierra Leone (CCSL) in Freetown, minister of health and sanitation Hon. Skeku Tejan Koroma said the aim of the training was to strengthen the ability of health staff and help them to be more qualified personnel in the field.

More than 30 members of the ministry are being trained.

"We are very happy to train our health staff," he said. "We hope after this training they will improve in the field." He noted that the workshop would help improve the capacity of the doctors by enhancing new ideas and skills.

Hon. Koroma said the government was committed to making health care affordable and available to every Sierra Leonean. He expressed gratitude to WHO, UNICEF and other partners for their support to the health ministry.

Dr. David Nyamwaya, WHO health promotion regional adviser officer, said health promotion gets people to participate in the health care delivery system. He added that it empowers the individuals and group of people to address the problem and issues of public health.

Dr. Nyamwaya said health promotion can make the health care system more productive. It focuses on behavioral change, social marketing and advocacy to improve the health of people.

Acting WHO representative Dr. Daniel Fussum said that investment in the health promotion could help reduce the number of deaths and avert disaster through preventing sickness.