The Anglogold Ashanti Health Foundation, the primary referral hospital serving the Adansi enclave within Ghana’s Ashanti region, is grappling with an alarming surge in kidney disease cases. Approximately 20% of the hospital’s annual admissions, or 2 out of every 10 patients admitted to medical wards, are diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. Recognizing the gravity of this situation, AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine, in collaboration with various health partners, initiated a proactive intervention through their quarterly community health outreach program, known as the ‘mini clinic.’ This particular outreach, held in Anyinam within the Obuasi Municipality, coincided with World Kidney Day and aimed to raise awareness about kidney health, provide free screening for kidney infections and other ailments, and offer essential healthcare services to the community.
The event underscores AngloGold Ashanti’s commitment to enhancing the well-being of its host communities. Aligning with the company’s 10-year socio-economic development plan, the initiative emphasizes improving access to quality healthcare services and delivery. Emmanuel Massey, the Superintendent of Stakeholder and Land Management, representing the Community Relations Manager, reiterated the company’s dedication to transforming the catchment communities into healthy and thriving environments through impactful health programs, policies, and projects. He underlined the company’s overarching mission of “mining to empower people and advance societies,” with healthcare initiatives playing a pivotal role in achieving this objective.
Dr. Suleimana Swabil, a Physician Specialist at the AGA Health Foundation, expressed concern over the rising incidence of chronic kidney disease, juxtaposed against the limited resources available for treatment within Africa, including Ghana. He highlighted the scarcity of dialysis centers, nephrologists, and specialized nursing staff to address the growing number of patients requiring kidney care. Dr. Swabil emphasized the vital function of kidneys, which filter over 50 gallons of blood daily, continuously removing toxins and maintaining fluid balance within the body. This constant workload underscores the importance of preserving kidney health.
Complementing the medical perspective, Henry Yeboah, an Assistant Director at the Obuasi Municipal Assembly, urged community members to prioritize their health by undergoing regular checkups. Early detection of health issues, he stressed, is crucial for effective management and treatment, especially for conditions like chronic kidney disease, which often progress silently. The event provided a platform for more than 1,000 individuals to receive comprehensive health screenings, encompassing tests for hypertension, blood sugar levels, and urine analysis – crucial indicators for kidney health. Individuals exhibiting serious complications, including signs of kidney infections, were promptly referred to the AGA Health Foundation for further medical evaluation and treatment.
While the mini clinic offered a wide spectrum of healthcare services, including eye and dental checkups, X-rays, HIV/AIDS testing, and pharmaceutical services addressing common ailments like malaria, the primary focus remained on kidney health screening. This targeted approach underscores the urgency of addressing the growing kidney disease burden within the community. The comprehensive nature of the outreach program demonstrates a proactive effort to identify and address kidney health issues at the community level, contributing to improved health outcomes and enhanced quality of life for residents.
The collaborative nature of the ‘mini clinic’ is instrumental in its success. Organized by AngloGold Ashanti, the program benefits significantly from partnerships with key stakeholders, including the Ghana Health Service, the Otumfuo Osei Tutu Foundation, the AGA Health Foundation, and Quantum LC. This multi-sectoral approach ensures a comprehensive and well-coordinated outreach effort, maximizing the impact on community health and reinforcing the commitment of all involved parties to improve healthcare access and address the pressing health challenges faced by the Adansi enclave. The collective efforts of these organizations demonstrate a shared vision of empowering communities through accessible and quality healthcare services, contributing to the overall socio-economic development of the region.
