President John Dramani Mahama has presented 30 bags of rice and 15 gallons of cooking oil to lepers in the country as part of the celebration of World Lepers Day.
The Christ the King Church, Domod Aluminium and the District Common Funds, have also presented items such as mattresses, cooking utensils, food, drinks to lepers in Kpandai in the northern region as part of the celebration.
Reverend Father Andrew Campbell, Committee Chairman of Lepers Aid Committee, said President Mahama made the donation when their outfit together with three lepers visited his office and discuss the deplorable conditions of lepers in the country.
Rev Campbell said this at the weekend in Kpandai Nkanchina Number 2 leprosarium in the Northern Region to observe world leprosy day under the theme: “The Old has Passed Away, Behold the New has Come” (2 Corinthians 5;17).
He said President Mahama made the donation because of the love and care he has for the less privilege in society and urged all corporate bodies to also extend their love to the lepers in kind.
Rev Campbell said the District Common Fund had promise to pay GH¢15 per week for each leper for six months and build a concrete house for them as part of their contribution to support the lepers.
He added that most people neglect lepers because they see them as outcast and urged all to show love and compassion to them since they are human beings and deserve to be treated as such.
Mr Daniel Kamballa, who represented the District Chief Executive in Kpandai, thanked all who helped in supporting the lepers, adding that the Assembly would work with the Lepers Aid Committee to support them in the community.
He enumerated some of the challenges facing the community such as health facilities, portable water, bad roads, electricity and education and called on government to come to their aid.
Mr Charles Kwame Bawa, a leper, thanked all who supported them and pray for strength and health for President Mahama to lead the country.
World Leprosy Day is observed internationally on the last Sunday of every January to increase the public awareness of the disease.
The day was chosen in commemoration of the death of Gandhi, the leader of India, who understood the importance of leprosy.
Leprosy is one of the oldest recorded disease in the world. It is an infectious chronic disease that targets the nervous system, especially the nerves in the cooler parts of the body - the hands, feet, and face.