Bolgatanga, Oct 19, GNA - Mr. Mark Woyongo, Upper East Regional Minister, has appealed to philanthropists and benevolent organizations to come to aid of a 16-year-old boy at Basina Junior High School in the Kassana Nankana East District to undergo heart surgery at the Korlu-Bu Teaching Hospital.

The Minister made the appeal on behalf of the boy and his parents who called on him at the weekend to tell him about their plight. The mother of the boy, Mrs. Womuyewe Wepia who is a petty trader, said her son, Sunday Wepia, was referred to Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and was diagnosed of having a defect in one of his heart valves. She said a cardiothoracic surgeon at the hospital said the boy had to undergo open heart surgery to replace the defective valve and this would cost 12, 000 Euros.

The Ghana Heart Foundation has agreed to pay 50 per cent of the cost and the rest of the amount to be borne by the boy's parents. Mrs. Wepia said since her son was diagnosed in 2007, all efforts to get help to enable their son undergo the surgery had proved futile. She said his sickness was hampering his academic work and his condition was also rapidly deteriorating. Mr Woyongo said those who want to help could send their monies to the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council Operation Account Number 9011130000846 Ghana Commercial Bank-Bolgatanga, Graphic Communications Group Limited, Ghanaian Times and other media houses. 19 Oct 09