Obuasi (Ash)-Ghana, Oct. 28, GNA – AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine and its partners have organised a mini clinic at Fomena in the Adansi North District of the Ashanti Region to climax this year’s cancer awareness month.
The partners: AGA Health Foundation, Ghana Health Service (GHS), and the Otumfuo Foundation supported the clinic, which saw hundreds of residents being screened for breast and prostate cancers as well as other ailments.
The clinic provided virtually all services, including laboratory and dispensary.
Health professionals comprising doctors, nurses and laboratory technicians from the GHS and AGA Health Foundation were on hand to attend to the people.
They took some time to sensitise participants on the need to adopt healthy lifestyles, while constantly availing themselves for cancer examinations to ensure early detection.
The exercise formed part of initiatives under the health pillar of the company’s 10- year Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP), which aims to improve the lives of residents in its host communities.
Mr Emmanuel Baidoo, the Senior Manager-Sustainability, AngloGold Ashanti, said the company prioritised the health and well-being of its host communities, hence the intervention.
“We are delighted at the turn out for the public education and screening sessions across our host communities,” he said.
“We believe in leveraging our expertise and resources as well as our partners to make a positive impact on the lives of community members.”
AngloGold Ashanti was committed to positively impacting the communities by investing in and improving access to quality healthcare and services.
Dr Abena Konadu Yawson, a Representative from the Adansi North District Health Directorate, advised participants to regularly check their health statuses for early detection and prevention of diseases.
She said last year 2,787 people were diagnosed with cervical cancer across the country, out of which 1,699 died due to late detection.
Mr Eric Kwaku Kusi, the District Chief Executive, advised the people to exercise regularly, and eat well-balanced diets to keep them away from the hospital.
He said the fight against breast cancer required the collective commitment and dedication of all stakeholders and pledged the Assembly’s commitment to supporting the fight through resource allocation to that effect.
