NGOs present drugs to 40 deprived communities

Kumasi, June 14, GNA - Two Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have presented drugs, medical consumables, and autoclave worth about 4.3 million dollars to health facilities in 40 deprived communities in the country.

They are Breast Care International (BCI), an NGO dedicated to the establishment of breast cancer awareness, screening and treatment, and Direct Relief, a US-based NGO that provides donated Rx medicines to over 70 countries world-wide.

Dr (Mrs) Beatrice Wiafe-Addai, a Breast Cancer Specialist, Surgeon, Founder and President of BCI, presenting the items in Kumasi, said: 'The quest and zeal of the two donor institutions to reach out to the needy in society is motivated and driven by the desire for a healthy and productive population as envisaged by the 17 targeted UN Sustainable Development Goals, notably the third goal on 'good health and well-being'.

She commended Direct Relief for remaining dedicated to the improvement of the quality of life and restoration of human dignity, while collaborating with health service organisations to donate medical supplies in some 60 countries.

Dr Wiafe-Addai, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Peace and Love Hospitals in Accra and Kumasi, said the BCI would continue to collaborate with like-minded institutions around the globe in the campaign to bring relief and improve the living conditions of Ghanaians adding; 'BCI will stop at nothing to realise this mission statement'.

She appealed to the beneficiary institutions and communities to make judicious use of the items for patients in need and not to be sold, adding 'Let us be honest to ourselves and check whether the patients in the communities received them'.

Mr Yaw Afful, the Member of Parliament for Jaman South in the Brong-Ahafo Region, who received the items on behalf of the beneficiary communities, expressed appreciation to the donors and urged the health facilities to improve healthcare delivery in the rural communities.

Last month BCI, in collaboration with Direct Relief and Johnson and Johnson, a US-based global pharmaceutical and medical products corporation, presented 7,680 bottles of the psychiatric drug Risperdal for Schizophrenia and Bipolar disease to 16 health institutions in the country.

GNA