Gold Fields Ghana limited in response to a request by the Tarkwa Nsuayem municipality has donated packets of PPEs and sanitary items to in the help fight against Covid-19.

The donation forms part of a comprehensive commitment of $400,000 by the company to support efforts aimed at preventing infections and spread of the coronavirus in two communities hosting their Tarkwa and Damang mines.

The Tarkwa mine is spending it portion of the amount to purchase two ambulances and Covid-19 prevention equipment 

The first batch of items which were donated to the Tarkwa Municipal Health Directorate included 35,700 pair of hand gloves, 20, 000 pieces of pockets sized hand sanitisers, 1,200 large bottles of hand sanitisers 8,000 pieces of surgical masks and 800 pieces of sample collection kits.

General Manager for the Tarkwa Mine, Stephen Osei Bempah, said the donation is to support host communities in their fight against the pandemic.

"Today we are presenting the first batch of PPEs we have received to the Municipal Committee on Covid-19 for onward distribution to the Municipal Health Directorate.

"The remaining items including the two ambulances which have already been ordered will be presented as soon as they are delivered," he said.

Emmanuel Affelkum, the Municipal Health Director, thanked the company for the kind gesture and support.

He urged that organisations within Tarkwsa to support in the establishment of an ultra-modern isolation centre there.

Mr Affelkum said such a centre could be used not just for the treatment and management of the patients suffering from Covid-19 but other diseases.

He said that they are happy to receive sample collection kits which will help them respond to any emergency as and when it occurs.

"The items will be distributed evenly among all the health facilities within the municipality including the private hospitals," the Municipal Health Director said

On his part, Gilbert K. Asmah, the Municipal CEO for Tarkwa-Nsuaem also charged other companies to emulate the gesture.

"On behalf of the president, the Municipal Covid-19 team and the municipality, I would thank Gold Fields for making good its promise even though this is the first batch," he said.