5,000 Obuasi residents benefit from free health screening
Free health screening exercises organised by the Anglogold Ashanti (AGA) Obuasi Mine have benefitted over 5,000 residents within the Obuasi East and Obuasi municipalities in the Ashanti Region.
As part of the exercise, four mini clinics with health workers were brought closer to the residents to enable them to go through the free screening exercise, during which those diagnosed with medical conditions were provided with the appropriate medication.
On the theme: “Wellness beyond survival: Breast cancer and mental health matter”, the screening primarily focused on breast cancer and mental health but also examined other health conditions.
The screening exercises conducted throughout October took place at the AGA Club House, Wawase, Black Park, Obuasi, Binsere and Sanso communities.
Purpose
Speaking at a durbar at the Sanso Community Park last Wednesday to climax the month-long exercise, the AGA Obuasi Mine Community Relations Manager, Edmund Oduro Agyei, in a speech read on his behalf, said the firm’s purpose was to mine to empower people and advance societies.
He said that as part of the firm’s commitment to improving community health and wellbeing for the last quarter of the year, Anglogold Ashanti had initiated a comprehensive awareness and screening campaign that targeted communities within its operational area.
“This effort is a key initiative under our Integrated Health Improvement Programme, our 10-year Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP) to support national health objectives,” he stated.
He announced that through the partnership with other organisations, the screening exercise had reached over 23,000 individuals since 2021, stressing “this year alone, we have touched the lives of over 5,000 community members through our mini clinics, thereby bringing healthcare closer to the people.”
Mr Agyei said to complement AGA’s facilitation in providing access to healthcare in communities, the company was about to complete the construction of a health centre to serve the Binsere and Dokyiwa communities.
He also stated that the construction of a Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compound and health staff quarters at Apitikooko and the refurbishment of the Akrokerri Health Centre, including a modern surgical theatre, among others, were underway.
Other speakers
The Human Capital and Administrative Manager, Geogrest Company Limited, one of the partners, Christabel Akorfa Dugah, urged both men and women to report any deformity in their breasts early to receive the appropriate treatment.
The Obuasi Municipal Health Director, Martin Osei Sarfo, underscored the need for people to prioritise their health and also called for support for mental health patients to fast-track their healing.
The Amanehene of Edubiase, Nana Osei Kwame, commended the AGA and its partners for prioritising the health of the people, saying it would go a long way to improve their health.
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