Health News of Friday, 8 December 2006

Source: GNA

Foundation donates 12 million cedis to hole-in-heart patients

Accra, Dec. 8, GNA - Narrow Gate Foundation (NGF), a Ghanaian-based charity organization, on Friday donated 12 million cedis towards surgical operation on seven children diagnosed with Hole-in-Heart. The organization made three separate donations of five million cedis through TV3 Network Limited for Master Silas; two million cedis through GTV for Master George Gyamfi and another five million cedis through Metro TV for Shamsia Hudu, Hussein Kabiru, Grace Tetteh, Samuel Danquah and Master Ofori.

Mrs Mavis Dowuona, President of NGF, noted that the Organization was moved by the plight of the kids and the passion to give them a second chance to life.

She observed that several people old and young in Africa died from curable diseases due to poverty, saying that it was high time society established some system to take care of poor people who die slowly from curable diseases.

Mrs Dowuona said NGF was established as a family charity organization to help to provide a safety net for needy people of all types, adding that it had done several charity works on a smaller scale in the past but was determined to take it to a higher level.

Mr Samuel Dowuona Jnr., Vice President of NGF, said when the plight of the kids was put on public television, the organization made contact with several individuals and churches both here and abroad.

"Through the benevolence of the people we contacted we were able to raise quite a substantial amount to contribute to the fund set up by the various television stations to help to send the kids for surgery," he said.

He extended special thanks to London-based Praise Chapel, headed by Ghanaian born Pastor Kofi Banful for their substantial donation. Other person who donated would love to remain anonymous.

Mr Dowuona, also a Journalist and Leader of Alabaster Box, assured the kids that NGF was still in the process of raising more money for their operation and would present them as and when they came in from donors, who had promised to contribute.

Mr Sam Dowuona Senior, Executive Member of NGF, noted that the organization was driven by the scripture; "do unto others what you want others to do unto you", and encouraged other organizations and individuals to come on board and assist the kids to have a second chance to life.

Prior to the donation to the hole-in-heart kids, NGF had donated used clothes and shoes and various sums to the Accra Psychiatric Hospital; Blind Christian Ambassadors; HelpAge Ghana; Accra Leprosarium and the Dzorwulu Special School.