AngloGold Ashanti (Ghana) Limited has rolled out a series of interventions and campaigns in the Obuasi township as part of measures to combat the spread of the Coronavirus (CoVID-19). Among them are the deployment of the services of its malaria control subsidiary, AngloGold Ashanti Malaria Control (AGAMal) and its hospital, the AGA Health Foundation to support the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate, Obuasi Municipal and District Assemblies and the Municipal Health Directorate.
With an excellent geodata of the Obuasi community due to the Indoor Residual Spraying for malaria, AGAMal over the weekend and daily disinfects all the 21 health centres in the Obuasi Municipality and District. These include the Bryant Mission Hospital, Kunka Community Health Centre and the AGA Health Foundation (AGAHF). The markets are also disinfected twice a week, these include the Obuasi Central market, Horsey Park and Tutuka market as part of efforts to disinfect major public places. In response to the disinfection efforts, some market leaders could not hide their joy as they thanked AGAG, the assemblies and health directorates for the show of humanity.
In addition to the disinfection exercise, a massive educational campaign on CoVID-19 is ongoing in Obuasi using AGAMal’s information van, distribution of communication materials on COVID-19 prevention, mounting billboards, poster and propagating prevention messages on radio programs and through interviews. Also, AGA Health Foundation is supporting through sample taking, sending off for testing and has trained personnel in the Government hospital in sample taking. Measures like the procurement and distribution of Bucket fixed with taps and soap dispenser (Veronica buckets) to Obuasi Municipal and Obuasi East District Assemblies have been initiated to support the handwashing campaign. The Managing Director, Mr. Asubonteng underscored the need for unity to fight the virus. “The need to work together as partners is paramount in times like these. The AGA Health Foundation (AGHAF) is therefore working closely with the regional and district health directorate to ensure our preparedness as a community remains ahead of the curve,” He said.
Amid the pandemic, AGAG is driving innovation with their internal production of a hand sanitiser, approved by the Food and Drugs Authority to be prepared in high volume and distributed to employees and the communities. “Our team has shown that beyond our expertise we can diversify when the need arises; I am happy to announce that AGA staff have developed a hand sanitizer which has been approved by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA). This will soon be prepared in high volumes and shared with the Obuasi community”. Mr. Eric Asubonteng commented.
Dr. Kwadwo Nyarko Jectey, Medical Superintendent, Obuasi Government Hospital in a brief interview said, the strong collaboration among institutions in Obuasi will help to make the interventions effective to prevent the spread of CoVID-19.
AngloGold Ashanti (Ghana) Limited will remain committed to ensuring that measures are in place to closely monitor the evolution of the CoVID-19 pandemic and its impacts, to protect the health and safety of Its employees and host communities. It will be recalled that on 15th March 2020, AngloGold Ashanti reported that one of its employees had tested positive for COVID-19. The employee has fully recovered and is expected to resume normal duties.
