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Ms Mavis Ama Frimpong, Eastern Regional Minister- Designate and a public health expert has pledged to leverage her expertise in all efforts put in place by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to reduce the current prevalence of maternal and neonatal deaths as well as HIV and AIDS in the Region.

Speaking at the opening of a three-day Regional Health Review meeting in Koforidua, the Minister-Designate noted that maternal-neonatal health and HIV / AIDS were all public health issues that had direct impact on the socio-economic development of the country and everything needed to be done reduce the menace.

She pledged support to assist the health team devise strategic approaches to sustainable care and services in these public health areas to achieve targeted goals.

Ms Frimpong, said the 90/90/90 strategy adopted by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) in achieving 90 percent coverage in HIV Voluntary Testing, 90% access to care and treatment and 90% reduction of viral load of HIV patients by 2030, was achievable once there was commitment.

She noted that with commitment and team work, the PICCAM strategy created to tackle maternal and neonatal deaths was also achievable and commended the Regional Director of Health and team for such an innovative strategy to advance the cause of a critical health care.

Dr. Charity Sarpong, Regional Director of Health, said HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria cases registered appreciable reduction in 2015 due to the enhanced surveillance and public education, training of health staff and distribution of Insecticide Treated nets (ITNs).

She however noted that non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes continued to scale up indicating that Hypertension increased from 94,962 in 2014 to 109,681 in 2015 whiles Diabetes increased from 31,887 in 2014 to 36,857 in 2015.

Dr Albert Cole, a gyaenacologist and Director of Newlands Medical Centre in Koforidua, called for emphasis to be on systems and health protocols other than on individuals in order to sustain gains and improvement.