Accra, Dec. 29, GNA - The 64 Infantry Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) on Tuesday donated $2,000 to the Ghana Cardiothoracic Centre=

(GCC) at Korle-Bu to boost their efforts in mending diseased hearts. Lieutenant Colonel Francis Dofa Arthur, Commanding Officer of the 64=

Infantry Regiment, who led about 30 officers and men to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for the donation, said it was meant to assist the centr= e in curing Ghanaians afflicted with heart diseases.

"Most people in Ghana only know of our ability to carry guns but we a= re using our widow's mite to demonstrate to Ghanaians that we care for the s= ick also," he said. He said the GAF recognized the good work the centre was doing in sav= ing lives and pledged their support in the years ahead.

Lt. Col. Arthur said the regiment would need the service of the cent= re in educating the personnel of the GAF on how to enhance their cardio heal= th. Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, Director of GCC and President of the=

Ghana Heart Foundation who received the donation, said cardio health of m= ost Ghanaians was not the best as a result of bad eating habits, smoking, excessive intake of alcohol and lack of exercise. He explained that what worsened the situation was the fact that the National Health Insurance Scheme could not cover it. He said in the face of increased heart related diseases, the facilit= ies for treating heart patients were inadequate.

Prof. Frimpong-Boateng called on Ghanaians to "keep a clean and clea= r mind devoid of evil intentions and anger to stay away from heart diseases= ". "Even at the highest level of provocation Ghanaians especially politicians must be at peace with their opponents," he stressed. He noted that currently, the figure of children born with heart diseases was 8,000 per annum but the centre could only cure about 5,000 o= f cases yearly leaving a deficit of 3,000.

The 64 Regiment also donated items worth GH¢1,000 and a cash of GH= ¢500 to the Osu Children's Home as part of their support to the home during th= e yuletide. The items included rice, fruit drinks, cooking oil, detergents and biscuits. Mrs. Sharon Abbey manageress of the Home thanked the officers and me= n of the 64 Regiment of GAF for their support.