Ahmed Mohadini-Yahaya(right), acting General Manager, Asanko Gold Mine, symbolically handing over the items to Nana Opoku Nsafoa Agyemang II(2nd left), Chief of Abore, on behalf of the two districts. Those looking on include Bernard Badu Bediako(2nd right), Amansie West District Director of Health Services.

Asanko Gold Ghana donates medical supplies worth GH₵824,645 to Amansie Districts on World Malaria Day

Emmanuel Baah Health Apr - 25 - 2023 , 18:38

As part of its efforts to support the fight against malaria and healthcare delivery in general, Asanko Gold Ghana Limited, a mining company, has donated medical supplies worth GH₵824,645.00 to the health directorates of the Amansie West and South Districts in the Ashanti Region, in commemoration of this year’s World Malaria Day.

The medical supplies included consumables, personal protective equipment (PPE’s), mosquito nets, repellents, and malaria test kits. Asanko also organized a free health screening and medication for the residents.

The acting General Manager of Asanko Gold Mine, Ahmed Mohadini-Yahaya, speaking during the presentation of the medical supplies, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to fighting malaria in its operational districts, which are endemic in the communities.

He highlighted the company's partnership with GIZ and its recent projects covering the screening for some communicable and non-communicable diseases in these two districts. In addition, some 7,000 community members have been enrolled free of charge on the National Health Insurance Scheme this year, he added.

Bernard Badu Bediako, the Amansie West District Director of Health Services, shared that malaria accounted for 39.8% of all OPD cases/morbidities in the district.

Although no one died of malaria last year, cases of malaria in children under 5 years reduced from 4,696 to 4,350, while that of adults increased from 12,117 to 13,486 cases. He advised residents to always sleep in mosquito nets and adopt good environmental practices within the community to help eradicate the menace.

The event was attended by the Divisional Chief of Abore, Nana Opoku Nsafoa Agyemang II, who commended Asanko for its continuous support to the people, especially in the area of health. The World Malaria Day for this year was themed “Time to Deliver Zero Malaria: Invest, Innovate, Implement”.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), globally, malaria incidence rate and mortality have virtually been at a standstill over the past few years, with sub-Saharan Africa contributing to over 90 percent. In 2020 and 2021, there were 625,000 and 619,000 deaths, respectively.