Merchant Bank and Lions Club of Accra donate to Korle-Bu.

Accra, April 7, GNA - Merchant Bank - Ghana, a financial institution on Friday donated an amount of 30 million cedis to the Urology Department of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. Mr Kwame Poku, Senior Manager of the Bank in charge of Investment, said the donation, which came from personal contributions of staff members, formed part of the Bank's social responsibility to meet the health needs of the country.

He said the Bank had in time past supported the physiotherapy and Cardio Thoracic Departments of the Hospital and would continue to make more contributions in the future.

Dr Samuel Gepi-Attee of the Department of Surgery, who received the cheque, said the increase in the Ghanaian population demanded an expanded and modified facilities to meet the present health needs. He said the initiators of such programmes needed to be rewarded and that the Hospital would keep record and would recognized such initiators at the appropriate time.

Meanwhile, the Accra Diamond Lions Club, a charitable organisation, also donated three Applanation Tonometers (eye testing equipment) worth 6,500 dollars to the eye clinic of the Hospital. Lion Nana Korantema Brookes, President of the Club, said it was concerned with the eye and decided to raise funds to purchase the eye equipment.

" It might seem now that we are providing a gift of sight to others because now we don't seem to have any problems with our sight, but it might turn out to be a gift to ourselves one day", she said. Dr Stephen Akafo, Head of the Eye Unit, who received the equipment, said it would help to reduce congestion at the hospital. He said the equipment, which is used to check glaucoma, caused by pressure of the eye, would help in the examination and treatment of the disease.

Dr Akafo said the Eye Centre operated on an appointment system and that the public should comply for the benefit of all. He expressed his gratitude to the donors and called on corporate bodies to come into partnership with the Hospital to enable it realize its vision. 07 April 06