Chamber of Mines supports Ebola fight

The Ghana Chamber of Mines has donated equipment worth GH?100,000 to the Ministry of Health in support of national efforts and preparedness toward prevention of the Ebola disease in the country.

Amongst the equipment donated were 225 sets of full Personal Protective Equipment, 65 units of Infra-Red Thermometers, 30 Hospital Beds, and 66 Gallons of Bleach.

President of the Chamber Mr. Johan Ferreira and Chief Executive Officer Mr. Suleman Koney, during the presentation ceremony used the opportunity to brief the minister on the various interventions of the mining industry in the economic and health sectors of the nation.

Mr. Ferreira said the body recognises that the most important input in its quest to leverage the country’s mineral resources and mining industry to foster shared prosperity is the human being.

“It is on account of the fundamental role of labour that we commend the government for its proactive steps to prevent the dreaded Haemorrhagic Fever, also known as Ebola, and putting in place mitigating measures in the unlikely event of an incidence,” he said.

He commended President John Dramani Mahama for his leadership in rallying international support for the sister countries with recorded cases of Ebola.

Mr. Ferreira said members of the Ghana Chamber of Mines invested about US$1.5million on various health projects for their host communities.

He said the mining sector has profound positive footprints in the health sector, including its flagship annual National First Aid and Safety Competition; mining companies impart competency on emergency response training and First Aid to members of their host communities through the formation of Community Safety Brigades.

Most mining companies educate their host communities on preventive medicine and put their health facilities at the disposal of community members.

Some projects undertaken by members of the Chamber include construction of community centres, schools, bore-holes for potable water, and Alternative Livelihood projects.

Some mining companies have replicated the highly successful Malaria control programme initiated by AngloGold Ashanti in Obuasi, which has reduced incidences of the disease malaria in the community significantly.

On the back of the success, the Global Fund has provided funding for AngloGold Ashanti to expand the project to other parts of the country.

The Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Victor Asare Bampoe who received the equipment on behalf of the Ministry, commended the Management and staff of the Chamber as well as the corporate body of Ghana for the consistent support to the Ministry since the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.