Koforidua, Sept. 25, GNA - The Pilgrim Christians Ministry, a church based in Italy, paid 8.8 million cedis for eight mothers who had been discharged by the Eastern Regional Hospital, Koforidua, after delivery but could not leave because they could not pay their medical bills.

The church also paid 5.7 million cedis for some patients on admission at the Male Ward, paid 950,000 cedis for drugs of other patients at the Casualty Ward and paid for 37 adults and 22 children from the New Juaben Municipality who were on admission at the hospital to be registered with the Municipal Health Insurance Scheme. Mr Emmanuel Oppong, the Ghanaian representative of the church accompanied elder Andrews Gyamera from Italy to the hospital to pay the bills.

Elder Gyamera said every year the church, which is made up of mainly Ghanaians, contributed money to be used to help Ghanaians on admission in hospitals in the country who are having difficulties in paying their medical bills.

He said for the past two years, the church had based its donations mainly at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and this year decided to come to the Eastern Regional Hospital to support the patients. Elder Gyamera said the Pordenone and Udine branches of the church in Italy raised this year's fund.

Ms Linder Ayittey, matron of the hospital, thanked the church for the donation and expressed the hope that it would maintain close relations with the hospital.