Sekondi Dec.3 -GNA-The Ghana National Trust Fund on Friday donated a cash of 20 million cedis to Ashata Mohammed, an 8-year old girl from the Nzema East District suffering from a strange skin disease, Congenital Giant Pigmented Hairy Naevus. Mr Mike Ezan, Chairman of the Fund, who made the donation, said the money is to cover the travelling expenses of Ashata and her sister to the United Kingdom for medical treatment. He said Ashata would undergo plastic surgery at the London Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Mr Ezan said Ashata's condition was diagnosised at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital but the disease could not be treated in the country. He said a United Kingdom Charitable Organisation agreed to foot all the medical expenses following a public appeal for assistance. Mr Ezan said the Trust Fund was set up to support those in need, with disabilities and other handicaps in society and also to provide subventions to some organisations catering for those in need. He said at the beginning of this year, the Trust Fund paid the medical bill of 12 million cedis of a boy diagnosed of an eye tumour.

Mr. Ezan said the fund has also given a gentleman 10 million cedis to undergo an eye surgery in South Africa and given another lady 10 million cedis towards her medical treatment in the United Kingdom. He said in addition, the fund has settled medical bills of children running into millions of cedis at the Korle Bu and Ridge Hospitals in Accra. Mr Ezan said during the year, the fund gave out 50 million cedis to a fund set up by the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs in aid of hapless and helpless babies detained at the Korle Bu Intensive Care Unit due to the inability of their parents pay their medical bills.

Mr. Joseph Boahen Aidoo, Western Regional Minister, who received the donation on behalf of Ashata, said the patient's condition has become serious and needs medical attention. He thanked the Trust Fund for coming to the assistance of Ashata and urged the public to come to the aid of the needy.