UK WILL HELP GHANA ACHIEVE MDG...In health sector (PAGE 22, DEC 4, 2010)

THE United Kingdom Government’s Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for International Development, Mr Stephen O”Brien, has suggested that more pragmatic measures must be taken to ensure that donor funds trickle down to beneficiary communities.
He observed that when such measures were taken, they would go a long way to create the needed impact for the beneficiaries, particularly those at the rural communities to ensure value for money.
Mr O”Brien further confirmed the UK’s commitment to support the country to achieve its Millennium Development Goal (MDG) in the health sector.
He, however, stressed the need for increased accountability and transparency within the sector.
The Under Secretary made the suggestion during an interaction with some health officials at the Kumbungu Health Centre as part of a day’s visit to the Northern Region. 
Among the projects he visited were a malaria eradication campaign programme dubbed: Hang a net,” a UK aid supported health clinic and “School for Life,” an adult literacy programme.
Mr O”Brien later announced a £10 million package for the procurement and distribution of 2.35 million long lasting insecticide treatment bed nets as part of measures to reduce the incidence of malaria in the country by 75 per cent by 2015.
Mr O’Brien and his team, including the acting Head of the DFID in Ghana, Mr Daniel Graymore, later spent the night at Gupanerigu, a deprived farming community in the Tolon/Kumbungu District.
According to Mr Graymore, the decision by the Under Secretary to sleep at the village was to afford him the opportunity to learn at first hand the challenges faced by the people at rural communities to enable him to make inform decisions and suggestions to policy makers on the way forward for such challenged communities. 
Mr O’Brien, who was appointed to his current position in May, this year, has demonstrated a committed interest in development work, particularly in malaria control and eradication programmes over the years.
Born in Tanzania, the Under Secretary has been the Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for Eddisbury since 1999, and has held a number of front-bench positions, including the Shadow Minister for Health and Social Care. He has also been an Opposition Whip.