Ahwetieso (W/R), April 18, GNA – In support of the country’s battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, Gold Fields Ghana Limited (GFGL), Tarkwa Mine has donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal committee on COVID-19.
The items which are expected to be distributed to the various health facilities in the Municipality include 35,700 pairs of hand gloves, 20,000 pieces of pocket-sized hand sanitizers, 1,200 large bottles of hand sanitizers, 8,000 pieces of surgical masks and 7,000 pieces of N95 masks.
The rest are; 1,500 pieces of protective gowns, 800 pieces of sample collection kits, 180 pairs of wellington boots, 80 pieces of safety goggles, 60 pieces of macintosh aprons, 70 handheld non-contact infra-red thermometers and 50 Veronica buckets.
Presenting the items, the general manager of GFGL Tarkwa Mine, Mr Stephen Osei-Bempah, observed that the company received a proposal from the Municipal Committee on COVID-19 to contribute towards the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said as Gold Fields, it prioritizes the health and safety of its employees and members of the community within which it operates, hence they decided to support the committee to prevent the spread of the virus in the Municipality.
Before Ghana recording its first Coronavirus case, Gold Fields had developed a comprehensive COVID-19 response plan to help avert infections within the Mine and their host communities, Mr Osei-Bampah explained.
The general manager said “As part of our response plan, our well-being team embarked on an extensive awareness campaign at the Mine and in the catchment communities. Apart from sensitizing the community members on the necessary hygienic and social distancing protocols, food vendors were provided with hand sanitizers and face masks”.
He emphasized that employees, contractors and visitors are screened thoroughly before granted permission to enter the Mine site, adding that, with support of the local health authority, they have established protocols to manage any suspected case at the Mine and host communities.
“Our Executive Vice President, on behalf of the Gold Fields Foundation, promised to donate two ambulances when he cut the sod for the commencement of the Tarkwa Na Abosso stadium project”, he recalled.
Mr Osei-Bempah further indicated that because of the urgent need for the ambulance by the Municipal Committee on COVID-19, the Tarkwa Mine has decided to fast track the purchase of the two ambulances.
He was hopeful that their contribution would boost the preparedness of the Municipality and ensure that they did not record any Coronavirus case in Tarkwa and its environs.
Mr Gilbert Kennedy Asmah, Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Tarkwa-Nsuaem who received the items on behalf of the committee and handed it over to the Municipal Health Director, Mr Emmanuel Affelkum, thanked Gold Fields for their immense support to the Municipal assembly.
The Municipal Health Director said “We are so happy to receive some sample collecting kits that will go a long way to help our effort in responding to any emergencies”.
Mr Afflekum assured the donors that the items would be put to good use to serve the residents in the municipality.
GNA