Gold Fields supports Covid-19 fight, promises two ambulances

Gold Fields Ghana has presented thousands of personal protective equipment (PPEs) and other items to the Ghana Health Service in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality of the Western Region.

The Gold Fields Tarkwa Mine is also on the verge of delivering two new ambulances promised the New Tarkwa Hospital and the Apinto Hospital in Tarkwa Nsuaem to help boost the fight against coronavirus and halt its further spread.

The items
The items include 3,500 pairs of hand gloves, 20,000 pieces of pocket-sized hand sanitizers, 1,200 large size of hand sanitizers, 8,000 pieces of surgical masks, 7,000 of N90 masks and 1,500 pieces of protective gowns.

The rest are 8,000 pieces of sample collection kits, 180 pairs of Wellington boots, 80 pieces of safety goggles, 60 pieces of mackintosh-aprons, 70 hand held non-contact infrared thermometers and 60 Veronica buckets.

The company said the donation was a quick response to requests by the municipal health directorate in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

The fight
The General Manager of Gold Fields Tarkwa Mines, Mr Stephen Osei-Bempah said “In these critical moments, there is the need to support the fight against Covid-19 to ensure that our host community does not record any case and also have its preparedness up-to-date.”

He said the company which is operating in the area received requests for funding of the items from the health directorate to help in its preparedness towards any eventuality.

“The items requested were immediately sourced and procured to help the municipality hospital take care of its hosts and protect staff members to deliver. In line with our efforts to help prevent the spread of the virus within our communities, we see the need to work closely with the municipal committee on Covid-19,” he said.

Funding
The Tarkwa Mine he said is spending its portion of the $400,000 committed to the prevention of infection and spread of coronavirus to purchase the preventive equipment support the effort.

Gold Fields Damang mine, he said, would also be presenting its Covid-19 items to the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipal Health Directorate to support efforts in that area.

New ambulances
On the new ambulances, he said, it was a commitment made on behalf of the Gold Fields Foundation, saying “In view of the urgent need for the ambulance by the Municipal Committee on Covid-19, the Tarkwa mine has decided to fast track the purchase of the two.”

The Municipal Health Director, Mr Emmanuel Affelkum lauded the great co-operation with industry against the pandemic and other ailments to ensure a healthy society for the host community.

“I must say that the support from Gold Fields would help us position ourselves well as healthcare providers to deal with reported cases in the municipality,” he said.

The municipal facility, he said, had been prepared well ahead of time to handle reported cases while soliciting for support and is better positioned with the prompt response from Gold Fields.

“We have since the inception of the virus’ first case in the country picked 32 samples for analysis, with 24 coming out negative while as at today (Friday) we are also working on additional samples to be sent to Accra through our regional directorate,” he said.

He said the municipality has not recorded any case and urged all to stay calm, not to panic, stay safe and ensure that all safety protocols are observed. “Going forward we plan to create an ultra-modern holding facility which could be used beyond Covid-19.”

The Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Gilbert Kenneth Asmah praised Gold Fields for the prompt response after receiving the items on behalf of the hospital.