By Erica Apeatua Addo
Akyempim (W/R), Oct. 24, GNA – More than 1,500 people from Akyempim and its environs patronized the quarterly medical outreach programme organized by AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine for its host communities in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality.
The Intervention formed part of Iduapriem Mines’ commitment towards ensuring that their host communities enjoyed good health in line with the Sustainable Development Goal three.
Patrons were screened for diabetes, blood pressure, malaria, eye and dental diseases and other health conditions.
They were also given free medication while those identified with complications were referred to appropriate health facilities for diagnoses and treatment.
Dr Kwesi Annor, Health Manager of AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine, in an interview with journalists said “We want to ensure that people residing in our communities are not negatively impacted in terms of health, so on quarterly basis, we go to the various communities, provide them medical services and through that we identify conditions affecting them, and we provide them treatment”.
He said this particular outreach was a grand one because they tried their possible best to bring on board adjoining communities like Bankyim, Akyem, Jerusalem, Charlekrom and more to also benefit.
He explained that “We have specialized services like the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT), where we examine people’s ear, nose and throat to identify any unusual condition that can affect them.” There are dental and eye services as well. So, we believe it is going to address the full health needs of the people in the community.
“Iduapriem Mine always want its communities to be better off, and so we believe this programme will go a long way to improve the health status of the people and also ease the pressure on existing public health systems”
Dr Annor indicated that over the past years, the Mine had registered thousands of people onto the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), constructed health centers in Adieyie, Berdukrom and Teberebie communities
“All these are some of our foot print we have left in our communities. In AngloGold Ashanti, one of our key sustainability initiatives is health care, and we are so much committed to it, and we are providing these services within the communities.”
Dr Annor underscored the need for regular medical screening and checkups, saying “this screening is important, advised its host communities and Ghanaians at large to take advantage of this free services”
He also described the exercise as very successful, stressing that all those who showed up from their operational areas and beyond were screened and offered the best services.
A patron, Madam Akosua Korang Aidoo, expressed appreciation to AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine for organizing the exercise, stressed that “most of us are sick but we cannot visit the hospital because of funds.”
GNA