The National Lottery Authority (NLA) has donated a quantity of assorted food items and other toiletries worth GH¢5,000.00 to the Pantang Psychiatric Hospital at a ceremony in Accra.

The items include 10 bags of rice, 10 gallons of cooking oil, 10 cartons of toiletries and bales of used clothing.

The donation which formed part of NLA’s corporate social responsibility is dubbed: "Putting smiles on the faces of the less privileged in society.’’

Mr George E. Gyamfi-Osew, Director of Special Projects, NLA, who presented the items said the Authority as part of its corporate social responsibility identified the Psychiatric Hospitals in Ghana as one of the health facilities with little attention that also lacked resources as a result of the stigma attached to mentally challenged persons in society.

He noted that the government had been the sole source of funding to the hospital and that funds received to feed, clothe and buy medication were always insufficient, hence as a corporate body the NLA deemed it worthwhile to donate in support the hospital.

He said the donation was in line with the NLA’s motto of developing the nation through games hence the donation.

He lauded the role of the staff and the warmth they had extended to the patients at the hospital over the years.

Mr. Alex Kissi, the Administrator of the Hospital who received the items commended the NLA for their kind gesture. He appealed to other donors to lend a hand by donating items such mattresses, food and other major needs.

A government Health Institution under the Ghana Health Service, the Pantang Psychiatric Hospital was commissioned in 1975 to decongest the Accra Psychiatric hospital.

The original intention of Ghana's first Head of State, late Dr. Kwame Nkrumah who initiated the project was to provide a Pan-African Mental Health Village for Research.

Currently the hospital has nine wards comprising three Female and six male, and a bed capacity of 500 but accommodates 450 patients. It has a vast land with a number of uncompleted wards, bungalows and junior staff accommodation facilities abandoned in the bush.

It also hosts a nursing training school, producing Registered Mental Nurses. In addition it has Departments such as Rehabilitation Center for drug addicts and an Anti-Retroviral Center that takes care of patients who are diagnosed positive for HIV and AIDS.

The hospital also offers advice to addicts and patients whose ailments are as a result of depression, stress or disappointments.**