Anglogold Ashanti is investing in the promotion of sickle cell prevention education in rural areas as part of its healthcare interventions.

Residents of Boete in the Obuasi East District of the Ashanti region are the latest to benefit from AGA's mini-clinic aimed at promoting frequent health screening.

About two percent of babies born yearly in Ghana have sickle cell disease.

According to Dr Enock Addo Sarkodie, a pediatrician at AGA Children's Hospital, residents in rural areas need to be educated on the disease to prevent increasing cases.

He was speaking at a health outreach by Anglogold Ashanti in the Boete community at Obuasi, where residents were educated on the preventive measures of sickle cell.

"We have more people in the community with the disease, and we have to screen and treat them. People who have thought about marriage should screen and know their genotype to prevent giving birth to sickle cell babies,"he noted.

Myths about sickle cell disease persist globally, leading to negative attitudes toward patients. 

As a result, many people with sickle cell conceal their diagnosis and are reluctant to seek medical care and treatment. 

Head of Occupational Health at AGA Health Foundation, Dr Justin Dakorah, wants Ghanaians to stop stigmatizing people with sickle cell.

''We know a lot of sickle cell patients go through a lot of discrimination and we're committed to curtail stigmatization. This mini clinic is to commemorate the 2023 World Sickle Cell Day and also screen residents on various diseases".

Some beneficiaries of the quarterly health outreach were grateful for the gesture by the company.

"This is the third time I have received free health screening from AGA, and I'm really grateful they consider people in the rural areas,"Maame Adwoa said.

"My family and I got free medications after the screening,"Agya Jonathan, a beneficiary also noted.

One key area towards achieving AGA's 10-year Socio Economic Development plan is to contribute to improving quality healthcare in its catchment areas.

Senior Manager, Sustainability, AGA Obuasi mine, Emmanuel Baidoo said, "The free health screening is a step in our journey towards access to quality healthcare by bringing it to the doorsteps of host communities. We also want to promote frequent screening in rural communities".

Collaborators of the mini-clinic include the AGA Health Foundation, GIZ, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Foundation, the Ghana Health Service and the Obuasi East District Assembly.