Tarkwa (W/R) Dec. 1, GNA - Scores of residents at Tarkwa and its environs have received free medical treatment and also used clothing worth 100 million cedis through the benevolence of Harvest Chapel International.

General consultation services and essential drugs were administered and provided by the Church's health professionals at no cost to the patients, the Reverend Fitzgerald Odonkor, Head Pastor of Harvest Chapel International, told the Ghana News Agency on Friday after the exercise that lasted for more than eight hours.

Rev. Odonkor noted that the Church did not only seek to meet the spiritual desires of people but believed that other socio-economic, health and emotional needs of the people must be provided by the Church. In fulfilment of this objective, Harvest Chapel led by its Medical Mission Team annually organizes free medical treatment, which seeks to attend to the health needs of people, who because of economic and other social constraints, cannot afford the fees charged at various health institutions.

"This is part of the general mission of the Church, I believe", Rev Odonkor noted and stressed that Jesus Christ provided the economic and social needs of people for Christians to emulate.

"Yes we need to seek the lost but without good condition of mind it is almost impossible to speak about the Word of God to the lost. They need to see and experience the mercies of God in practical terms and understand the love of Jesus Christ through the Church."

He said beside medical care, the Church also provided free counselling on various issues, including HIV/AIDS; how to handle stress; building Christian character and the Christians' role at the workplace, in the community and country.

Rev Odonkor said the medical mission was preceded by a three-day Evangelistic Crusade, dubbed: "Tarkwa for Christ," which stirred up the community for God.

Dr Peter Puplampu and Dr Isaac Koranteng, both from the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, who head the Harvest Medical Mission, educated the community on the advantages and disadvantages of mandatory HIV/AIDS testing. 1 Dec. 06