The Fanti Benevolent Society of Chicago, United States, in collaboration with the Mfantsiman Association of North America (MANA) on Thursday, presented pap-smear testing kits worth 10,000.00, dollars excluding shipment and duties, to the Central Regional Hospital (CRH).
The pap-smear test is carried out on women by health professionals to ascertain their cervical cancer status for prompt medical attention on detection of any unusual development around the cervix.
Nana Kobiwa-Akwa III, Queen of Bosomin-Ayeldu, in the Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese district, who led a five member delegation from the United States to donate the kits, said it was the Society's contribution to help save Ghanaian women from developing cervical cancer.
She indicated that with the kits, she was of the hope that more women will go for the test at the Regional Hospital for the early detection of the disease for early treatment to stem the high rate of cervical cancer deaths among women in the country.
Nana Kobiwa-Akwa said the Society has adopted the children’s ward of the Cape Coast Metro Hospital and promised to liaise with the Regional Hospital authorities to find out its immediate needs and offer support.
Mr. Yorke Eghan, an Elder of the Fanti Benevolent Society of Chicago, appealed to the Government to offer tax exemptions to benevolent organizations that offer support in the form of equipment and others to the country to encourage more of such organizations to do so.
Mrs. Alice Eghan, also an elder of the Society and a retired nurse, reiterated calls on women to avail themselves of the test at least once a year to know their status and also seek early treatment in case of any eventuality.
Dr. Daniel Asare, Medical Director of the CRH, who received the kits, expressed gratitude to the delegation for the gesture and said the support would enable the hospital attend to needy patients either at a subsidized rate or free of charge.
He urged other organizations abroad to support the hospital with medical supplies.