AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem  (AAI) mine has refurbished  an infirmary at a total cost of GHȼ27,683.36 for inmates at the Tarkwa local prison to enable them access the primary health care.

 

The infirmary which used to be in a deplorable state has also been stocked with modern medical equipments and drugs.

 

Handing over the keys of the facility to the officer in charge of the prison, Mr Jasper Musadaizwa, Managing Director, said because the company attaches a lot of importance to health issues his predecessor, Mr Sicelo Ntuli promised to take up this project when he paid a familiarization visit to the prison.

 

Mr Musadaizwa said AAI had earlier on donated eight sets of 40 inch flat screen televisions and twenty wall fans which have since been mounted in the facility.

 

He said since the mine since inception of the community development programme considered primary health care as a major component of its community development programme.

 

Mr Musadaizwa said this has led to the provision of a health post, organizing periodic health outreach for its nineteen host communities, spraying of houses within the municipality by their malaria control programme, supply of intravenous medication and the construction of a voluntary counselling testing centre at the Apinto Government Hospital.

 

He said the AAI has began launching its malaria control programme in their host communities at a budget cost of GHȼ340,000.00.

 

He said for 2017 they have committed an amount of GHȼ1,062,983.36 towards health and sanitation projects.

 

Mr Musadaizwa on behalf of AAI pledged to re-equip the skills development centre at the Tarkwa prison to enable the inmates acquire some skills before they complete their prison sentence.

 

Mr Gilbert Kennedy Asmah, the Municipal Chief Executive for Tarkwa Nsueam, expressed gratitude to the management of AAI mine for their immerse contribution to the communities in which they operate.

 

He also promised to ensure that the skills development centre become operational as soon as possible.

 

Assistant Director of Prison (ADP) Mr Kwaku Ababio Ali, the officer in charge of the prison, thanked AAI mine for the gesture.

 

He said his office had already procured ten computers for the Information Communication Technology training centre and added that some staff from the University of Mines and Technology have stated their intension to train the inmates and officers.

 

Mr Ali promised to manage the facility effectively to ensure that inmates, officers and their dependents attain optimum benefit from it.

 

Mr Emmanuel Affelkum, the Municipal Health Director for Tarkwa Nsueam, said two physician assistants and a nurse have been sent to the run the infirmary.

 

GNA