Asanko Gold Mines presents medical supplies to 8 health facilities
Asanko Gold Mines, in partnership with Project CURE, a US-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), has provided three 40-footer containers of medical equipment and supplies worth $1.5 million to eight health facilities in the Amansie West District in the Ashanti Region.
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Saint Martins Catholic Hospital at Agroyesum was the first to be presented with equipment according to specific health needs of the facility.
Beneficiaries
The other facilities which received their share of the largest health suppliers in the history of the region are Manso Nkwanta Health Centre, Manso Adubia Health Centre, Manso Nkran Health Centre, Manso Abore Health Centre, the Keniago Community-based Health and Planning Services Compound, Essuowin Health Centre and the Mother of God Clinic at Esaase.
Among the items presented were incubators, fetal doppler equipment, autoclaves, ICU beds, vital signs monitoring equipment and laboratory centrifuges.
The General Manager (Operations), Charles Amoah, said the donation was rooted “in what has become known as the ‘Asanko Opportunity Cycle,’ which provides the framework for its corporate social responsibility programmes.
“Specifically, the Asanko Opportunity Cycle leverages the presence of the mine to make a positive impact on our communities and stakeholders in order to create a self-sustaining legacy that will survive beyond the life of the mine,” he said.
Contributions
Project CURE, the largest provider of donated medical supplies and equipment to developing countries around the world, contributed $1.3 million while the mining company added $200,000.
The American-based NGO is assisting to bridge the health resources gaps in countries such as Ghana by empowering doctors and nurses with the tools they need to treat diseases, deliver vaccines, perform life-changing surgeries and ensure safe childbirth.
The Medical Superintendent of Martins Catholic Hospital, Agroyesum, Dr Ofori Amanfo, lamented the poor road network which has impeded smooth health delivery in the area.
Indeed, on the way to the health facility, this reporter saw a lot of vehicles stuck in mud while others were completely cut off from the rest of the town, so vehicles carrying the sick could not make it to the facility.
Dr Amanfo said the hospital which remained the main referral facility in the district might not be able to serve the people as expected if the road network was not fixed.
Response
The Member of Parliament for the Adubia Constituency, Mr Yaw Frimpong Addo, said that contract had been awarded for the road to be reconstructed immediately after the rainy season.
The 6.7-kilometre road, which is estimated at about GH¢8 million, is expected to be completed within 18 months.
The District Health Director, Mr Dominic Dobbin, touted the district as one of the places endowed with best health facilities.
It has 24 health facilities, after Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), and over 14 CHPS compounds.
