Anglogold Ashanti Iduapriem Community Trust Fund has cut the sod for the construction of a GHc600.000 Health Care Center for Wangarakrom and its environs to improve health care delivery.
The project will be executed by Festmens Engineering Construction Limited, a local contractor from May-December this year, will benefit Wangarakrom, Badukrom and Nkyemia communities.
Mr. Samuel Noi, Acting Managing Director Iduapriem Gold Mine at the sod cutting ceremony at Wangarakrom in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality in the Western Region explained that community members have to travel several kilometers to access basic health care.
“The distance that one needs to travel sometimes by foot due to the bad nature of the roads have several impacts on health care delivery do not help – community members who fall sick fall on traditional medicines, street drug vendor among others with all their associated health implications” he said.
According to him, community members wrote to Anglogold Ashanti Iduapriem Community Trust Fund for support in the construction of a standard facility aimed at improving health care delivery in the catchment area.
He said upon several reviews by the steering committee in consultation with Municipal Health Directorate recommended proposal on the health center for approval by the board of directors.
Prof. Newton Amegbey, Board Chairman of Iduapriem Community Trust Fund said health care delivery continues to remain paramount world over -this facility, is one of the interventions under the Integrated Health Project, aimed at increasing access to health care delivery in the mine’s host communities.
He said already, the community in collaboration with the Municipal Health Directorate have rented two-bedroom facility in the community to house some health personnel and also serve as Community Health Planning Service Center.
This facility, he explained is basically used for first aid at improving health care delivery in the catchment area – the project is expected to be completed and handed over to the beneficiaries through the Municipal Health Directorate by December 2017” he said.
Mr. Emmanuel Affelkum, Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal Director of Health Services noted that health is important to the development of the community in which the mine operate.
He assured the community that after the project, physicians, nurses and all the human resource needed will be brought to the health center to ensure efficient health care delivery at all times.
Gyasehene of Apinto Stool, Dr. Nana Adarkwa Bediako II commended the mine for supporting in education, health and transport of the communities in which it’s operate.
He encouraged the members of the community to ensure maintenance and sustainability of the project when completed – we must appreciate what the companies operating in our communities are doing and that we should protect the interest of the mine.
He encouraged the mine to support in the tarring of the road leading to the project site to ensure accessibility for community.
