Emulate Gold Fields - School Health Coordinator Tells Other Mining Firms

The School Health Coordinator in the Prestea Huni – Valley Municipality, has commended Gold Fields Ghana Limited for its response to health-related issues of its host communities.

Mrs. Comfort Danso Yeboah says the way and manner Gold Felds takes charge of health and other pressing issues of members in the host communities must be emulated by other mining companies.

She made the statement at Damang, a community in the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality, during this year’s celebration of Global Handwashing Day which is marked annually on October 15.

Mrs. Danso Yeboah said Gold Fields as a company has been playing its part in making sure they mark the day to continue creating awareness of proper handwashing.

“If every mining company will do what Gold Fields Ghana has been doing, our health activities in schools would be effective to help avoid illness among children in our schools”. She said.

She is therefore entreating mining companies which care about the future of their host communities to follow suit.

The Health Promotion Officer at the Prestea Huni-Valley Health Directorate Enock Atta Aggrey, on his part mentioned that, the Handwashing Day was basically set aside to create awareness of the many diseases one can get from negligence of hand hygiene and how people should be educated to prevent such diseases by regularly washing their hands.

Community Affairs Manager for Gold Fields Damang, Madam Maud Ofori stated, it is necessary to mark the day so as to bring together school children on how to maintain hand hygiene to avoid diseases.

She believes, teaching them how to do it at this young age will become a habit as they grow.

The Global Handwashing Day which was marked at Damang under the supervision of Gold Fields Ghana Limited Damang Mines, brought together opinion leaders and school children, to learn the basics of proper handwashing and how important one must continue with that healthy life.

At the short ceremony, the eleven schools present received two veronica buckets, three hand sanitizers, three soap dishes and two boxes of carbolic soaps.

The day, was simultaneously being marked by its sister company, Tarkwa Gold Fields with the Tarkwa Anglican Basic School.

Global Handwashing Day is a global advocacy date, dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding about the importance of handwashing with soap as an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives. It is also an opportunity to design, test, and replicate creative ways to encourage people to wash their hands with soap at critical times.

This year’s theme is “Clean Hands for All.”