Passion for Needy, a charitable organization belonging to the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOANS), has presented a cheque and food items totaling about GHC4, 000 to 15 orphans whose parents have died of HIV/AIDS at Abensu, near Pokuase.

The items included bags of rice, cartons of cooking oil, disinfectants, boxes of biscuits, boxes of tin mackerels, a Emmanuel TV satellite decoder and some pieces of clothes.

The cheque for GHC2, 940.00 was presented to Madam Linda Akyaa Mensah, caretaker of the orphanage to enable her to settle the rent arrears and also to pay for one more year rent advance.

Speaking at the presentation, Mrs Janet Torgbor-El Aschkar, Chairperson, Passion for Needy, expressed appreciation to Madam Akyaa Mensah for her decision to cater for the children who were between the ages of 3 and 26.

She noted that the NGO was touched by the plight of the orphans and the orphanage after it was broadcasted in the media some weeks backs, hence their decision to assist.

Madam Mensah, who is also HIV positive and the founder of Human Compassion organization, the NGO which caters for the orphans said seven out of the 15 orphans were living with the disease.

She expressed disappointment about some family members of the inmates who refuse to visit them due to their HIV status.

“I have noticed that family members are even happy I have come for the children to keep them away and they don’t even bother to visit them”

She cited funding as the major challenge faced by the NGO, saying that since 2008, they had not received any financial support from the Ghana Aids Commission.

She appealed to corporate institutions to help the children get a permanent place since they are finding difficult to pay for their rent.

Madam Mensah who has lived with the disease for 20 years, called for an end to stigmatization in an effort to stop the spread of the disease.