Samuel Boakye Pobee (2nd left) presenting the medical supplies to Mr Benjamin Kessie, the MCE, Tarkwa Nsuaem and Mrs Carolina Effah Otoo (right), the Municipal Health Director

Iduapriem Mine opens 20-bed unit at Apinto Hospital

News Desk Report Sep - 09 - 2021 , 13:10

AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine has inaugurated a 20-bed fully resourced Communicable Diseases Unit for the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality at the Apinto Government Hospital.

The facility - which was refurbished for GH¢300,000 - will serve as an isolation centre for the management of COVID-19 cases in the municipality.

The project covered the provision of washrooms, improvement in ventilation within the block to prevent cross-infection, and expansion of rooms for the comfort of patients and healthcare workers.

The mine also presented assorted essential medical supplies valued at about GH¢1.2 million to help fight COVID-19 in the municipality.

Among the items donated were 100 beds, 30 monitors, 80 drip stands, three ventilators, 30 infrared thermometers, 20 air conditioners, hydroxychloroquine, dexamethasone, anticoagulants, antibiotics (intravenous) and immune boosters.

COVID-19 protocols

The Managing Director of the Iduapriem Mine, Mr Samuel Boakye Pobee, emphasised the need for residents to abide by the COVID-19 safety protocols to prevent further spread in the municipality.

He mentioned that in line with the company's emergency response plan, there had been several interventions, including donations of personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical equipment to high-risk areas even before the support for an isolation centre.

Mr Pobee reiterated the mine's commitment to work actively to mitigate health risks in the workplace and to respond to community health issues in the areas where it operated.

Timely intervention

The Chief Executive of the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipal Assembly, Mr Benjamin Kessie, commended the mine for the timely intervention, given the scarce resources available for managing COVID-19 cases in the municipality.