AngloGold Ashanti to build health facility for Wangarakrom

A Sod-cutting ceremony has been performed for work to begin on the construction of a health facility estimated at GH¢600, 000.00 at Wangarakrom in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality.

AngloGold Ashanti (AGA), the operator of the Iduapriem Mine at Tarkwa in the Western Region, is undertaking the project which is expected to serve about 550 community members of Wangarakrom, Badukrom and Nkyemia, and others who have to travel several kilometres to access basic health care.

The decision by AGA to execute the project followed a request by the community leaders to the AngloGold Community Trust Fund for support to construct a standard facility, designed to improve health care.

The AGA Iduapriem Trust Fund, which was launched in September 2012, is an independent entity of Iduapriem to support the long-term sustainable development of the communities within which the company operates.

Distance

The distance that the people need to cover, sometimes by foot due to the bad nature of the roads, has several negative impacts on health care delivery in those areas.

The project, which is expected to be completed and handed over to the beneficiaries through the municipal health directorate by December 2017, is one of the interventions of the company under its integrated health project.

It seeks to increase access to healthcare delivery in and around the mine's host communities in particular and the municipality as a whole.

Health implications

Speaking at the ceremony, the acting Managing Director, Iduapriem Gold Mine, Mr Samuel Noi, noted that community members who fell sick usually relied on traditional medicine, street drug vendors and other unorthodox means of treatment, with all the associated health implications.

He observed that women who were in labour sought assistance from stakeholders.

Mr Noi also noted that the community, in collaboration with the municipal health directorate, rented a two-bedroom accommodation facility in the community for some health personnel and also served as a Community-based Health Planning Services (CHPS) compound.

That facility, according to him, was basically used for first aid and minor ailments due to its size and the facilities available to function.

The acting Managing Director indicated that the company's intervention areas were health, water and sanitation; education and livelihoods, adding that an overall investment of about GH¢4 million had been utilised for a number of projects in various locations in the catchment area.

The Chief of Apinto, Nana Adarkwa Bediako, noted the deplorable nature of the roads in the area and appealed to the management of the company to consider improving the road network in the area.

He, however, gave an assurance that the traditional authorities would ensure that the facility, when completed, would be well maintained to prolong its lifespan.