The two ambulances INSET:Osei-Bempah (middle) being assisted to cut the tape to inaugurate the ambulances.
Gold Fields Ghana Limited has presented two brand new and fully equipped ambulances to the Apinto Government Hospital and the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal Hospital in the Western Region.
The ambulances, which cost about $248,000, are to help improve healthcare delivery in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem municipality.
Presenting the ambulances, the General Manager, Tarkwa Mine of Gold Fields, Stephen Osei-Bempah, said provision of the ambulances was in fulfilment of a promise the company made to the municipality.
He said the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, George Mireku Duker, sometime ago, made an appeal to the company to assist the Municipal Health Directorate with an ambulance.
He said the Executive Vice-President and Head of Gold Fields West Africa, Alfred Baku, pledged on behalf of the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation, to donate the two ambulances to the two government hospitals at Tarkwa.
“In line with Gold Fields’ value of integrity, we are honouring the promise that was made last year,” he said.
He urged the hospital administrators to put in place a maintenance plan to ensure that the ambulances remain in good condition and serve the community for many years.
He noted that Gold Fields had so far committed more than $850,000 to fight Covid-19 in operational areas and other parts of the country.
Mr. Osei-Bempah said at the national level, the company, through the Ghana Chamber of Mines, contributed over $433,000 to support government’s efforts to reduce the spread of the virus.
“In addition, $400,000 was used to support our employees and help communities through the provision of hand sanitizers, face masks, infra-red thermometers, goggles, protective gowns and other Covid-19 prevention items,” he added.
The Municipal Health Director, Caroline Eshun Otoo, praised Gold Fields for helping to increase the fleet of ambulances to provide emergency services to the people.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Tarkwa