The Ghana Association of Savings and Loans Companies (GHASALC), has donated assorted items valued at 50,000 cedis to the National COVID-19 Treatment Centre at Ga East Municipal Hospital at Kwabenya in the Greater Accra Region.
The Executive Secretary of the Association, Tweneboah Kodua Boakye, said the donation, which includes medical essentials such as Omron i11 digital BP apparatus, Omron standing BP apparatus, infrared thermometers, pulse oximeters, dispensers, as well as bottled water, toiletries and sanitizers valued at GHS50, 000.00, is to support the national effort in battling the pandemic.
According to him, the Association will make similar donations at other health facilities involved in the treatment of people infected with the virus as well as to the National COVID-19 Fund.
He said GHASALC provides financial services to over 6 million clients in over 540 branch network across all the 16 regions of Ghana, and thus has the best structures to aid government in disbursing it’s GHS600 million cedis stimulus package for SMEs.
“Some of the companies have given repayment extensions to their loan clients, while some clients are also enjoying reduction in interest rate, loan reschedule or restructuring. A number of the S&Ls have also made donations in kind to their affected clients and some of the vulnerable communities where they operate,” he said.
“As the association continues to monitor the situation to enable us respond accordingly where necessary, we also urge clients who have been negatively affected by the pandemic to contact their respective institutions for tailor-made support” he advised.
He said in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, savings and loans companies are streamlining for full digitization to enable them render services to clients remotely.
Accepting the donation, the Medical Superintendent at the Ga East Municipal Hospital COVID-19 Treatment Centre, Dr. Ebenezer Oduro Mensah, called on the public to desist from downplaying the seriousness of the pandemic, warning that the virus is real.
He urged Ghanaians to continue practicing personal hygiene as well as social distancing to prevent a further rise in the number of cases in the country.
Dr. Oduro Mensah said the facility, which has been converted to a COVID-19 Treatment Centre, has recorded 2 deaths out of 192 people admitted since March 21.
He said the facility is currently caring for patients who are ill or suffering from other comorbidities, while those with asymptomatic conditions have been transferred to another facility for treatment.
