The Marshallan Relief and Development Services (MAREDES), a Catholic non-governmental organization, has donated medical equipment worth GH¢150,000 to two catholic hospitals through the National Catholic Secretariat.

The equipment, including Gynaecology, Surgery and Laboratory equipment and instruments, are sophisticated and state-of-the-art medical applications, would be given to Battor and Buduburam Hospitals, where staff will be trained and provided technical assistance towards their installation and use.

Mr Edward Prah, Board Chairman of the Knight Society who led a delegation to make the presentation, said their primary consideration is to reach the poor and needy through health facilities with the capacity to utilize the equipment effectively.

“This donation of medical equipment marks the beginning of a series of activities that have been planned to contribute to improved health service delivery, sanitation awareness and public health. This donation is building upon our previous efforts in trying to reach out to the needy in different respects,” he said.

MAREDES was established by the Noble Order of the Knights and Ladies of Marshall, to expand its charitable services to humanity, inspired by the Marshallan mission to take Christ to the world through one of its fundamental pillars of charity.

Mr Prah said MAREDES' vision is to help create a community where the poor, distressed and needy find friendship, love and practical support as human beings in God’s own likeness.

He expressed special thanks to Dr and Mrs Nartey, accomplished medical officers and specialists with over 30 years experience and practice in Switzerland, through whose instrumentality, MAREDES, was able to make the donation.

Mr Prah expressed the hope that by their common effort, the Catholic Church will continue to be at the service of the poor and remain a “poor church for the poor.”

Rev Fr Emmanuel Abbey-Quaye, Assistant Secretary-General of the National Catholic Secretariat, expressed gratitude to MAREDES, urging other charitable organizations and individual philanthropists to also come to their aid.

Dr Anita Appiah of the Catholic Health Service, also expressed gratitude, saying that the donation of medical equipment had come as an answer to their prayers.