Tamale, Feb. 06, GNA - The Christian Children's Fund of Canada (CCFC= ), a Tamale-based International NGO offering support to needy communities, l= ast year de-wormed some 50,000 children in 1,027 schools in the Northern Regi= on. Mrs. Sanatu Nantogmah, Country Director of CCFC said this on Thursda= y, after she presented 65 boxes of assorted drugs to the Ghana Health Servic= e for distribution to some health institutions, particularly those in its operational districts. The drugs, which comprised antibiotics and vitamins was valued at ab= out GH¢90,000 and it's to be given to malnourished children in deprived communities, to improve their nutritional status. CCFC is a child centred international development organization and a=

member of Child Fund Alliance, whose main purpose is to show compassion, love and care to children, by offering them the needed attention and assistance to grow. Mrs. Nantogmah said CCFC was determined to de-worm 750 thousand children this year and appealed to the Ghana Health Service to continue helping her outfit to give the needed training to personnel who would de-worm the children. She said the CCFC was concerned about children's health no matter th= eir religious backgrounds, and that CCFC and its donors would continue to ass= ist children and other vulnerable groups in society. She said children in the Northern sector were facing a lot of challenges due to the poverty levels of their parents, coupled with diseases, conflicts and other social problems, adding that, there was the=

need for all to extend a hand of friendship to children, for them to real= ize their dreams. Dr Akwasi Thumasi, Northern Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service commended CCFC for their efforts, saying that, "CCFC is doing a l= ot to help the Ghana Health Service to address some health needs of rural dwellers in the Northern Region. "I am appealing to your donors through you to increase your package on the de-worming exercise since many children in the region are malnourishe= d and need support," he said. He said the GHS would continue to cooperate and help the CCFC to dispense drugs to needed children and communities to ensure that the heal= th status of the people improved. 06 Feb. 10