Regional News of Saturday, 27 September 2003

Source: GNA

NGO donates Community Centre to community

Samsam Odumase (GAR), Sept 27, GNA - Madam Monica Westin, President and Founder of the World of Hope International (WOHI), an American Non-Governmental Organisation operating at Samsam-Odumase, near Amasaman, in the Ga District has presented a 50,000-Dollar Centre to the community.

Speaking at the ceremony on Friday, she said the construction of the Community Centre with a clinic stocked with drugs, a library, a day-care centre and a canteen, is part of the efforts of the NGO to support the development and growth especially of needy children. Madam Westin announced plans by WOHI to educate the public on HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, adding that, the NGO would also provide scholarship for young girls, who risk dropping out of school.

She stressed the need for parents to respect the rights of children and to ensure their development and upbringing to enable them to grow into useful citizens.

Mr Nash Abbey, District HIV/AIDS Coordinator, advised the people to observe basic hygiene.

He called on them especially the youth to avoid premarital sex and to stick to their known partners to avoid the spread of AIDS. Nii Kwame Perbi III, Chief of the town, thanked the NGO for the facility and advised parents to send their children to school to enable them acquire skills for national development. Madam Westin later presented school uniforms to the pupils of the day-care centre.