The gesture was to mark the United Nations (UN) International Day of Charity by supporting the needy and vulnerable in the society. It was also to visit and interact with the inmates and assess how best the Group and other entities could come to the aid of the inmates.

The items donated to the aforementioned bodies included over 1,150 bottles of Alvite blood syrup, 1,040 pieces of Medicam Anti-bacterial soap, and 1,000 pieces of Combat-N triple action cream for skin diseases.

Others were 1,750 pieces of Wormee-4 Albendazole Oral Suspension for deworming, 1,000 bottles of Kofof Cough syrup and 1,000 slippers. Mrs Harriet Asante, Programmes Manager of the Foundation, who presented the items on behalf of the Group, said they saw the need to observe and celebrate the day with the poor, needy and vulnerable in the society.

She said the day was designated by the UN General Assembly in an effort to mobilise the world to help others.  Mrs Asante noted that supporting the needy and vulnerable like widows, prisoners, children, the aged, orphans and people battling with various kinds of health challenges are among the many beneficiaries of the gestures of Mr Samuel Amo Tobbin, Patron of the Foundation and Chairman of the Tobinco Group of Companies.

The Foundation, she explained therefore sought to use the initiative for the public benefit, the relief and assistance of people in need of clothing, better living and health by supplying them with better medical aid and toiletries through visitation and interaction.

Deputy Superintendent of Prisons (DSP), Dr Lawrence Kofi Acheampong, Medical Superintendent in charge of Nsawam Medium Security Prison Clinic, who received the items on behalf of the Prison, expressed the gratitude of the inmates and the entire prison to the Foundation.

He commended the Tobinco Group for the kind gesture, adding that, many of the prisoners have skin diseases due to the inadequate accommodation, which makes them to sleep so close to each other.

“Looking at the varying conditions we have in our prisons, we attend to a lot of cases and the average number of people we attend to is about 100 and therefore the medication has come timely for us to deliver quality healthcare services to the prisoners,” he said.

DSP Dr Acheampong said the clinic attends to all kinds of health concerns but the most notable among them is malaria, respiratory tract infections, anaemia, musculoskeletal conditions, and psychological psychiatric conditions.

He appealed to other non-governmental organisations and the government to help the Prison with ambulances, adding that, the Prison currently has over 3,500 inmates and a Clinic with a 50 bed capacity.

Chief Superintendent of Prisons (CSP) William Thomas Anaman, Commander in Charge of the Prison Awutu Camp Prison, who received the items worth GH¢30,000.00 on behalf of the Prison said: “I think the coming of the Foundation and the entire Group is an intervention to support us because drugs in the Prisons are very scarce.

“Therefore coming here was laudable, and we will also make sure the drugs are used for the purposes for which they were distributed,” he said.  In an interaction with the Prisoners, they appealed to the government to consider revising the GH¢1.80 per prisoner per day, adding that, some inmates are dying from hunger and malnourishment.