The Chief Executive Officer for the Prestea-Huni-Valley Municipality, Dr. Isaac Dasemani has disclosed that the Municipality is running out of COVID-19 isolation space following the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the area.
The MCE said this when Gold Fields Damang Mines supported the Prestea-Huni-Valley Municipality with a donation of Personal Protection Equipment, disinfectants and thermometers worth $108,000.
Dr. Dasemani who was appreciative to Gold Fields for supporting its fight against COVID-19 told Citi News that the assembly is currently seeking to acquire new space from a private facility to be used as isolation centre.
“Currently we are facing isolation centre problems because the cases have started increasing and the spaces we have is getting full. This morning I met my Health Directors and we are thinking of ways of expanding our isolation centre.”
“Plans are far afoot to secure a facility to use as an isolation centre. So we are actually in discussion with the owners to see how best we can agree so that we use it as an isolation centre. Just yesterday we had additional cases bringing the total to 31 and we still have outstanding samples and then those who are still doing contact tracing, which means that we are expecting more cases within the Municipality. However, this donation has come at a very good time, especially the thermometers as we are detailing more trained persons to mount barriers to check those coming into the municipality.“
The Gold Fields Regional Manager of Sustainability, Abdel Razak Yakubu, after presenting the items at the municipal assembly at Bogoso told Citi News the all-important needed items meant to protect health workers in the municipality had to come in two-batches due to supply chain challenges.
“Barely a month ago, Gold Fields was here[Prestea-Huni-Valley Municipal Assembly] to make a donation totalling about a $108,000 to help the Municipal Health Directorate to fight the COVID-19 pandemic in the area. We did indicate that due to some supply chain challenges, not all the items were ready at the time. So we promised that we would be back to give the second tranche of items which we have done today. We have hand gloves, surgical mask, the N95 mask, goggles, infrared thermometers, gowns among others that we have brought today just in keeping our promise.“
The Gold Fields Regional Manager of Sustainability also said Gold Fields has a plan to regularise its support as the Western Region’s cases increase.
“It is unfortunate we are recording increasing numbers in the Western Region but Gold Fields as a partner in the development of the area is always around with our doors opened. This donation is made at the beginning of the battle and we already know we might have to live with this pandemic for a while. We already have support for the health and the well-being of the host communities. Through those channels, we believe we can assist the communities in an ongoing manner in order to replenish some of these consumables that we are donating.“
Emmanuel Kofi Tamakloe, who is the Municipal Health Director, said the Municipality has a backlog of over a 100 samples and it is waiting for the results.
He said there may be more COVID-19 cases.
He, therefore, thanked Gold Fields for coming to their ward with PPE which is likely to be a challenge if the positive cases increase.
