Newmont launches project to save new born babies

The Newmont Akyem Mining Company in collaboration with Project Cure, a United States based Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), has organized free health screening exercise and treated various diseases for people in 10 communities affected by the operations of the mines.

The exercise was to help improve the health needs of the people in the Birim North District.

The “Helping Baby Breathe” project was also launched for heath personnel in the Birim North District, to teach lower level health care providers, newborn resuscitation techniques, which was aimed at saving up to 90 per cent of newborn babies with breathing difficulties.

Launching the programme, Mr Kevin Moxham, the General Manger of Newmont Akyem Mines, said the training of health care personnel from the New Abirem Government hospital, and the donation of medical equipment worth 400,000.00 US Dollars to the hospital, had saved 79 babies with breathing challenges, resuscitated newborn babies and helped reduced child mortality under five years at the hospital.

He said with the assistance of Project Cure, a quantity of medical equipment have been donated to the Akyem Oda Government Hospital, the Holy Family Hospital at Nkawkaw, and other satellite health facilities within the district to enhance the health delivery system in the area.

The General Manger urged all stakeholders of the programme to play their effective roles with the needed commitment required to ensure its success.

The leader of the eight member Project Cure medical team, Ms Patricia Curry, said the team was made up of doctors, nurses, pharmacists and technicians, who would work alongside medical staff to solve some of the health problems of the people in the district.

The District Director of Health Services, Mr Thomas Azurago, expressed concern with maternal and child mortality and appealed to pregnant women to attend regular antenatal clinics, to avoid complications during delivery.