Charles Wordey (middle) assisted by other staff to present the dummy cheque to Dr. Lawrence Agyeman Serebo (left).
The National Investment Bank (NIB) has presented a cheque for GH¢30,000 to the National Cardiothoracic Centre to support its operations.
Head of Corporate Affairs at NIB, Charles Wordey, was accompanied by other officials of the bank to present the cheque to the Centre on Thursday.
The bank offered the financial assistance in response to the Centre’s appeal for support.
Director of the Cardiothoracic Centre, Dr. Lawrence Agyeman Sereboe, expressed gratitude for NIB’s contribution.
He said there were 18 children awaiting surgery.
“If 1 million individuals will contribute a minimum of GH¢2 each monthly, it will enable the Centre treat a minimum of 50 cases each month,” he said.
He therefore appealed to telcos and individuals to come to the aid of the centre.
One out of 100 children is born with a hole-in-the-heart defect.
Each year, 5,000 patients get treated for different heart conditions.
The minimum cost for a heart surgery is pegged at GH¢25,000, which is beyond the reach of the average Ghanaian.
It is for this reason that the Ghana Heart Foundation was formed to mobilize funds to help pay for the cost of surgery and treatment of patients who cannot afford this.
Currently, the Ghana Heart Foundation pays 50 to 100 percent of the cost of heart surgeries in the country.
A business desk report