The East Milan Red Cross Society in Italy has presented two ambulances, communication equipment and protective clothing to the Central Regional Red Cross Society to enable it to attend to emergency health challenges.

Additionally, it donated some hospital materials to the Baobab Health Centre at Biriwa in the Mfantseman Municipality to assist in health care delivery in the area.

Presenting the items, the representative from East Milan Red Cross, Dr Masini Lino, said during his visit to the Region last year, he noticed that the Red Cross Society lacked certain basic necessities, hence his decision to assist with the items.

Dr Lino was, however, expressed concern that the items meant for charity work had to be unduly delayed at the port and pleaded with the Government to consider lifting import duties on goods meant for charity.

The Central Regional Minister, Mr Aquinas Tawiah Quansah, who received the items on behalf of the Region, and later handed them over to the Red Cross Society, expressed the Region’s gratitude to the East Milan Red Cross for the kind gesture.

He explained that some persons imported other goods into the country under the pretext of charity but ended up selling them, saying that it was imperative for the Government to tighten things up at the port in order to get the needed revenue.

Mr. Quansah, therefore, asked donors and other volunteers to make the necessary contacts such that they would not go through any embarrassment when importing items for charity to the country.

Mr. Ekow Aidoo, the Regional Manager of the Ghana Red Cross Society, explained that the ambulances would help the society to position itself well to be able to attend to emergencies to save lives in the Region.

He explained that the Red Cross Society did not only assist in emergency health challenges during natural and man-made disasters, but it also took good care of all health issues, which contributed to the building of a healthier society.

Mr. Aidoo gave the assurance that the items would be put to good use to achieve its intended objective.

He also urged philanthropists and other institutions to constantly support the Red Cross to be able to perform its functions effectively.