In a significant move to improve maternal healthcare in Accra, Newmont’s Africa Business Unit has donated essential medical equipment worth One Hundred and Thirty Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢130,000.00)to the Osu Government Maternity Home, one of the oldest maternity facilities in the Greater Accra region.
The donation is part of the company’s ongoing efforts to support local health institutions and strengthen maternal and child health services.
The Osu Government Maternity Home, which has been providing critical care to mothers and newborns for over 90 years, is a cornerstone of the Korle Klottey Municipality.
It serves over 22,000 people in the municipality. However, like many public healthcare facilities, it faces challenges in accessing modern medical equipment.
Data from the World Bank shows that Ghana’s maternal mortality rate remains high at 263 deaths per 100,000 live births.
Causes of maternal mortality include postpartum hemorrhage, sepsis, hypertensive disorder, and other socioeconomic factors such as poor access to healthcare and a lack of skilled birth attendants.
Recognising this gap in maternal healthcare delivery, Newmont’s Women and Allies Business Resource Group, an employee-led group that works to empower women and advocate for equal opportunities among female employees, launched a charity project aimed at providing direct support to the Osu Government Maternity Home.
Through generous and voluntary efforts, Newmont’s workforce raised funds to support the facility. In support of the initiative, the company matched the contributions, resulting in the purchase of the equipment and items worth GH¢130,000.
These funds were used to procure and deliver essential medical equipment to the maternity home, including an ultrasound machine, delivery beds, examination trays, forceps, blood pressure apparatus, lamps, and writing tables, among others.
At the handover ceremony, Ms. Amma Benneh-Amponsah, the Head of People for Newmont’s Africa Business Unit, emphasised the importance of supporting healthcare in the community. “We are honoured to support the Osu Government Maternity Home, a place that has done so much for generations. We hope these items will provide a level of support to the amazing team here, so that you can continue to deliver the essential services that every mother who walks through your doors with their babies so dearly requires.
“This initiative is a testament to what we can achieve when a group of people come together with a shared purpose. It reflects Newmont’s purpose of creating value and improving lives, as well as some of the values we hold dear, such as safety, responsibility and inclusion.” Ms. Benneh-Amponsah added.
For the dedicated staff of the maternity home, this donation could not have come at a better time. The facility has been operating with limited resources for years, and this boost from Newmont is expected to significantly improve the experience for patients and healthcare workers alike.
“This harbour is not just a monument to progress, it is a vital lifeline for socio-economic empowerment, job creation and improved livelihoods. We are investing in superior infrastructure to reduce post-catch losses, improve fish catches and reduce our dependence on imported fish,” President Akufo-Addo stated.
