Accra, Oct. 21 GNA - The Chartered Institute of Bankers (CIB) on Saturday presented a cheque of 20 million cedis to the Ghana Heart Foundation (GHF) in Accra.

This is the first time that the Institute was making such a donation to the Ghana Heart Foundation.

Mr. Isaac Owusu-Hemeng, Vice President of the CIB said the association singled out the GHF because of the important role the foundation was playing in the health delivery sector. He said bankers, because of their life style changes, face occupational diseases such as hypertension and other cardiovascular ailments that need special care.

He said even as bankers were assisting the cardiothoracic centre to perform this specialized treatment, the bankers were invariably helping themselves.

Dr. Lawrence Sereboe, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon was received the cheque on behalf of the GHF commended the institute for assisting the centre.

He called on other public-spirited individuals and organizations to follow the example of the institute and support the centre since the care and treatment of cardiovascular diseases were expensive. In a related development, 50 students of the Chartered Institute of Bankers have also donated blood to the National Blood Bank at Korle Bu.

The exercise forms part of activities to mark these year's national Banking Week.

Mr. Sam Donkor, Public Relation Officer of the CIB said the blood donation was to increase the stock at the blood bank as well as for emergency treatment.

He urged the public to support the blood bank since every individual would be at risk, in case of unavailability of blood required for treatment.