Mr Ofori presenting mosquito repellents to Nana Yaa Damoah
Gold Fields Ghana Limited (Tarkwa Mine) and Abosso Gold Fields Limited (AGL, Damang Mine) have stepped-up malaria campaigns in Tarkwa and Prestea- Huni Valley municipalities of the Western Region.
These include education of community on malaria and its prevention, treatment and use of bed nets and mosquito repellents, checking status on malaria and distribution of mosquito repellents particularly to pregnant women.
Working through the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation (GFGF), both the Tarkwa and Damang Mines, have spent a total of US$ 7,000 on this year’s World Malaria Day marked last Tuesday, at Huniso in the Prestea-Huni Valley municipality of the Western Region.
On the theme: “Time to deliver zero malaria; invest, innovate implement”, school children, community member, health professionals, farmers and pregnant women participated.
Speaking at the ceremony, Executive Secretary, Abdel-Razak Yakubu, explained that the Foundation was committed to improving the health and well-being of people in the host communities.
He said since 2007, GFGF had joined the international community in the fight against malaria.
As part of Gold Fields’ contribution to the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal 3; which focuses on ensuring healthy life and promote well-being, the Foundation has implemented a number of programmes and projects in the health front.
These include the construction of health facilities, health outreach and weekly radio programmes where health professionals educate the public on pertinent health issues among others.
The Foundation, he said, had spent US$2,195,150.92 in support of health and well-being activities at Tarkwa while Damang Mine, had also spent US$ 732,006.94.
Urging communities to find innovative strategies to eradicate malaria,he encouraged all to embrace the malaria vaccine when government approves it.
Queen of Huniso, Nana Yaa Damoah, said children below age five and pregnant women were mostly affected with malaria and encouraged members of the community to always keep their environment clean by desilting choked gutters.
Prestea-Huni Valley Municipal Health Director, Timothy Kobina Ofori, said, 12,962 malaria cases were recorded among children under five years, 14,975 in 2021 and 9,726 cases in 2022 in the Prestea- Huni Valley municipality.
He mentioned that 3,337 pregnant women were tested positive for malaria in 2020, 3,498 in 2021 while 2,599 were also tested in 2022.
From Clement Adzei Boye, Huniso