Accra, Dec. 25, GNA - The Cancer Society of Ghana on Thursday donated Christmas gifts and other food items to children in four hospitals.

Hospitals that benefited from the donation are the Ridge Hospital, the Accra Psychiatric Hospital, the Princess Marie Louise Hospital (Children's hospital) and the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. The donation is an annual event done by the Cancer Society in partnership with AfrOx, a United Kingdom based organization that advocates prevention and eradication of all forms of cancer. This year the Society invited Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo, Wife of the NPP Presidential candidate to give the presents out on their behalf. Mrs Akufo-Addo also added bags of rice and sugar, boxes of soap, disinfectants, plastic buckets, plates and cups as her personal contribution to the donation.

She said she was happy to give out gifts to children in hospitals because Christmas is a time when families needED to be together. "Unfortunately these children find themselves in hospital and we must all help put smiles on their faces." Mrs Akufo-Addo used the occasion to wish all Ghanaians to Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.

Rev. Fr. Victor Sackey, Executive Secretary of the Cancer Society of Ghana, said the organization formed five years ago aims at advocating for the prevention and eradication of cancer. He said the annual donation is made possible because every year AfrOx appealed to students at Oxford in the United Kingdom to donate items to Ghanaian children, especially those who are sick. "The students pack various presents into boxes and send them to Ghana to be given to children in hospitals on Christmas day." Rev. Fr. Sackey said, this year AfrOx sent over 400 shoeboxes stuffed with different items ranging from toys to shoes and dresses for children of all ages.

Dr Lorna Renner, Acting Head of Child Health Department at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital expressing her gratitude for the gesture also expressed hope that Ghanaians, especially children would have access to improved health service in the country in the coming year.