The Christian Mothers’ Association (CMA) in the Sunyani Diocese recently donated rice, cooking oil, tubers of yam, onions, tomatoes, plantains, cocoyam, milk, milo, sugar, baby diapers, soft drinks, fruits, vegetables, detergents and toiletries to the Hand in Hand Community of Special Children at Nkoranza in the Techiman Diocese.
Mrs. Agnes Ansaa, the Diocesan President of the Association, who presented the items noted that the donation was their Lenten obligation to the needy and less privileged in society, saying that their love and care for the afflicted motivated them to choose the community.
She urged families with children with deformities not to consider them as evil but give them utmost love and care, calling on benevolent individuals, groups, organisations and societies to extend help to the less privileged.
Mr. Samuel Baffo, the Project Director of the community, said it has 93 inmates between 18 and 55 years and 46 workers with each worker taking care of two inmates.
He noted that apart from deformed children who had been abandoned by their families, the Community also caters for orphans, and bemoaned the situation where parents who give birth to deformed children abandon and sometimes, kill them.
Mr. Baffo pointed out that inmates were trained in kente weaving, bead making, bags with sachet water rubbers, and farming among others, adding that proceeds from the sale of these items was their main source of income.
Rev. Msgr. Boachie Gyan, the Diocesan Spiritual Director of the CMA and Parish Priest of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, Wenchi in the Sunyani Diocese, advised the Managers of the Community to contact the Ministry for Gender, Children and Social Protection and the Nkoranza Municipal Assembly for support.
The Peace of Christ Hand in Hand Community was started in 1992 by expatriate Medical Doctor of St. Theresa Catholic Hospital at Nkoranza, Dr. Ineken Bossman from USA, to cater for mentally handicapped children.
