Tongo (UER), June 18, GNA - A group of philanthropists based in the United States of America on Friday presented items worth 16 million cedis to two communities in the Upper East Region and the Bolgatanga Central Hospital.

The items which included, school uniforms, shoes, and used clothing, were given to school children in Tongo near Bolgatanga and Ganne near Navrongo, while the Children's ward of the hospital received gloves, soap, rice and cooking oil.

Presenting the items for the school children in Tongo, Mrs. Eugenia Danso, a Ghanaian resident in the USA, explained that she decided to do something to help children in small communities in Northern Ghana and got help from a group of Christian philanthropists.

She hoped that the school uniforms would encourage the children to go to school and said she planned to continue sourcing for assistance for school going children.

Receiving the items on behalf of the children, Pastor Jonas P. Offei, Regional Pastor of the Apostolic Church, thanked the donors and said the items would be put to good use by those it was meant for. He appealed to Ghanaians abroad to remember the needy at home and help.

Receiving the items for the Children's Ward at the Bolgatanga General Hospital, the Assistant Secretary of the Hospital, Mr. Edward Addai, noted that government alone could not bear the cost of the health needs of the people and urged other institutions and philanthropic individuals and organizations to emulate the gesture of the Apostolic Church.

He commended the church for the gesture and said the ward lacks certain key logistics to enable it function effectively. 18 June 04