AngloGold Ashanti offers mini-clinic service to Obuasi communities

• A health officer (right) attending to a woman during the screening exercise

About 30,000 people within the operational areas of the AngloGold Ashanti, Obuasi mine have benefitted from a mini-clinic initiative by the mining company.

At the 14th edition of the mini clinic (health screening) held in Obuasi at the weekend, the community members were screened for diseases such as hypertension, hepatitis, sickle cell anaemia, typhoid, HIV, while dental and eye care services were provided at no cost to the community members.

Beneficiaries were the elderly, mainly women as well as the youth who flocked to the venue to access free quality healthcare.

The Community Relations Manager of the mining company, Mr Edmund Oduro Agyei, said the exercise was part of the health intervention program outline in their 10-year socio economic development plans launched in 2022.

He said they had facilitated training for about 500 health workers in burns treatment and management, heavy metal and toxins management, cervical neonatal and infectious disease prevention among others.

Mr Agyei mentioned the construction of ultra-modern health facilities with the state-of-the-art equipment to serve the Dokyiwaa and Binsere communities, expansion of the Akrokerri Health Centre to include a new constructed surgical theatre and construction of a clinic at Apitikooko.

He said the facilities would bring much relief to those who needed to travel for quality medical care and provide them with quality care and treatment.

The program has been praised by health professionals and residents of Obuasi for its impacts on providing a one-stop shop for accessing quality healthcare for all ailments.

Mr Martin Safo Osei, Obuasi Municipal Health Care Director, commended the mining company for the mini clinic initiative.

He said it was rare to find free health outreach program that screened unlimited number of people at a time, stressing that the vulnerable and poor who previously found it difficult to access quality healthcare had found solace in the mini clinic.

Most of the beneficiaries who interacted with the Ghanaian Times, praised the mining company for the exercise, saying they did not have any clue of their medical conditions “but thanks to the mini clinic they have been diagnosed with diabetes, and have received advice on managing the conditions.”

Nana Kankam Boadu, Odikro of the New Estate Community, commended the mining company for the mini clinic initiative and the various health intervention programs for the community.

He urged the people of Obuasi to support the mining company to fulfill its corporate social responsibilities.

FROM KINGSLEY E.HOPE, OBUASI