Some benefiaciaries awaiting for their turns to be screened
HUNDREDS OF Boete residents, in the Obuasi East District of the Ashanti Region, have benefitted from a mini-clinic organized by AngloGold Ashanti (AGA), Obuasi Mine to offer free medical care to members of the community and its environs.
The beneficiaries who defied the early morning rainfall on Thursday, June 29, to be screened for malaria, hepatitis ‘B’, toothache and oral health, hypertension, diabetes, blood pressure, eye diseases, also received free medicines, treated mosquito nets and medical consultancy.
The programme was in line with the health component of the mining giant’s 10-year Socio- Economic Development Plan (SEDP), aimed at providing quality health care within its catchment area.
The Principal Medical Officer, Occupational Health of the AGA Health Foundation, Dr. Justin Dakora, addressing the chiefs and people of Boete said, the mini-clinic was held under the auspices of the AGA, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Health Foundation, Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), including AGA Health Foundation, Obuasi Municipal and Obuasi-East Health Directorates.
According to him, the mini-clinic was planned to commemorate the sickle cell day which is celebrated annually on June 19.
“We know that the African is quiet discriminated against when it comes to sickle cell, it affects us the most and we wanted to bring home the message knowing that the June 19 is the sickle cell day, hence we decided to celebrate this to bring home the message on sickle cell this time round,” he added.
The health practitioner stressed that the AGA Health Foundation provides quality healthcare not only to the mine employees and dependents but also to the people of Obuasi and neighbouring communities.
He encouraged the people to take advantage of the initiative and present themselves for screening anytime the clinic is organized in the area.
While applauding the traditional rulers and the people for turning up in their numbers to have their health challenges attended to, Dr. Dakora also advised them to take the advice given them by the health professionals seriously.
Senior Manager- Sustainability AGA, Emmanuel Baidoo, stated that his outfit sought to achieve resilient and socio-economically self-sustaining communities in Obuasi.
“Today’s mini-clinic, which is one of the many health interventions that the AngloGold Obuasi mine is implementing, serves as a demonstrated step in our journey towards access to quality healthcare by bringing it to the doorsteps of our host communities,” he said.
Nana Kofi Berchie, Regent of Boete, lauded the mining firm for providing many innovative interventions to enhance the physical wellbeing of the people.
Dr. Enoch Addo-Sarkodie, Paediatrician Specialist at the AGAF advised the people to seek medical checkups for sickle cell disease as it was becoming prevalent in the area.
From David Afum, Kumasi