Over five hundred residents of Brahabebome and surrounding villages in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality have benefitted from annual medical outreach programme organised by Gold Fields Ghana Foundation (GFGF).
The successful medical outreach held last Saturday saw residents line up to undergo medical screening for free.
The programme was very exciting because 90% of the health personnel, who took the residents through the exercise, were either current or past beneficiaries of the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation scholarship programme.
The health personnel included Doctors, Nurses and Pharmacists, who have all returned to give back to the community that supported their education, a testament of the Foundation’s vision of fostering a cycle of support and development within its host communities.
The initiative, which is part of the Foundation’s expanded access to quality healthcare programme, has not only provided essential medical services to the community, but has also showcased the long-term impact of the Foundation’s various interventions.
The Executive Secretary of the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation, Abdel Razak Yakubu, highlighted the importance of this coordinated approach, stating that “the interventions that the Foundation has in our host communities are not just bits and pieces. Everything is linked.
“When we give scholarships, we have a vision that one day, the beneficiaries will come out of school and also give back to the community and we are excited about that.”
The Foundation, he stressed, had invested over GHS130,000 in procuring medicines and paying stipends to volunteers involved in the outreach programme, which takes place every quarter. This significant investment underscores the Foundation’s dedication to improving the health and well-being of the people in its host communities.
The outreach programme, part of a four-year initiative that began this year, is designed to expand access to quality healthcare for the residents of Brahabebome and surrounding areas.
Almost 500 residents benefitted from the free medical services offered during the event, which included treatment for various ailments such as high blood pressure, malaria and respiratory infections.
The presence of an Optometrist at the outreach was particularly appreciated by the community members, many of whom received much-needed eye care.
Ibrahim Iddrisu, the Unit Committee Chairman of Brahabebome, expressed his gratitude to Gold Fields, saying “This medical outreach has enabled many to check their health and the introduction of an Optometrist has greatly helped those with eyesight problems.
“Gold Fields has not only provided scholarships, but has also asphalted our roads and built a community centre for our social gatherings and funerals.”
Nana Adjoa Baawah I of Apinto Brahabebome also praised Gold Fields for their efforts in bringing healthcare to the community’s doorstep and that this is the first time such a comprehensive healthcare service had been provided in the area.
“All ailments, including high blood pressure and malaria, were attended to. I am very elated by Gold Fields’ efforts to make our communities better off by bringing this free medical outreach to Brahabebome,” she said.
Dr. Antoinette Atta Hasford, a medical officer at Tarkwa Mines Hospital, reported that the most prevalent issues treated during the outreach were malaria in children and respiratory infections. She also raised concerns about the elderly, many of whom had high blood pressure or diabetes, but had stopped taking their medication without any apparent reason.
Dr. Atta Hasford called for an attitudinal change, urging caregivers and family members to encourage these patients to take their medication seriously and attend regular health reviews.
One of the scholarship beneficiaries, who is currently in her final year at the Tarkwa Midwifery School, Margaret Edu-Bofuo, expressed her deep gratitude to Gold Fields for the scholarship that has enabled her to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse. “Without their intervention, I wouldn’t have fulfilled my dream of being a nurse, as my parents didn’t have the means to finance my education at that level,” she said.
The success of this year’s medical outreach is a clear indication of GFGF commitment to leaving a lasting legacy in its host communities through coordinated, impactful initiatives that not only address immediate needs, but also empower the residents.
