Koforidua, March 28, GNA - The Rotary Club of Accra-Airport, has donated a total of GH¢15,000 to the Mathew "25" House, an HIV/AIDS cent= re in Koforidua.
The amount would enable the centre to defray debts owed to health facilities and institutions that provide services and goods to the patien= ts. Mathew "25" House, which was set up in 2003 currently oversees 70 patients and 98 orphans and vulnerable children, who have become destitut= e as a result of their health status and death of their parents. Mr Ebow Acquah, President of Rotary Club of Accra-Airport, presented=
the cheque which would be given to the Koforidua Regional Hospital, Gabso= n Pharmacy, Kwawaja Brothers Company for providing healthcare, drugs and fo= od items.
The Club also presented to the centre, GH¢4,000 for the upkeep of the patients. According to Mr Acquah, the Rotary Accra-Airport collaborated with Rotary Club of Milwaukee (US) for the donations, making it the fifth time=
that the centre had received such assistance. Reverend Monsignor Bobby Benson, Director of the Centre, who receive= d the cheques, indicated that they had received immense support from Rotary=
Accra-Airport which would help to defray their debts.
He said due to the piled up debt it became difficult for the patient= s to access health care and drugs, since not all ailments were covered unde= r the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). Reverend Benson said 66 out of the 70 patients were on Anti Retrovir= al Treatment (ART) and due to financial constraints the House paid 50 per ce= nt of the subsidized GH¢5 for the drug whiles the patients paid the rest t= o ensure that they stayed on it to improve their health. He thanked Rotary Accra-Airport for the support and added that the House, which was single-handedly being financed by him, relied on support=
and charity and hope that others would emulate the gesture of Rotary and come to their aid.