AngloGold Ashanti Health Foundation, AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine and Greater Works Restoration Foundation (GWRF) have partnered on a joint collaboration to provide free reconstructive plastic surgery to the Obuasi community.
It is reported that the programme is the second of a maiden edition which was held last year to inaugurate the project. Last year’s edition was facilitated by a joint collaboration between AngloGold Ashanti Health Foundation, Galaxy foundation and Greater works restoration Foundation. This year’s scheme is set to expand its services for a larger number of beneficiaries.
This edition of the programme begun its inception in May when the registration process commenced to facilitate individuals who responded to the call. On Saturday 22nd of June, the second phase of the programme thus the Screening stage which has been postdated to close on the 23rd of June, was held at the premises of A.G.A Health foundation. Over 200 people from 10 communities who registered for the programme were scheduled for the screening process to undergo cross-examination and pre-patient studies. Eighty percent of the patients seen were women and children with all sorts of oddities ranging from birth defects such as cleft lip to acquired traumatic events like post burns deformities.
Briefing the Press, Dr. Kwadwo Anim – Clinical Services Head of A.G.A Health Foundation appended to the project’s mode of procedure that the screening process will keep the facilitators well informed of the selection process. Selection process for individuals to benefit from the operation may decline and refer some patients likely due to unavailable surgical equipment to handle extreme cases. According to Dr. Anim, administrators of the project will set off a one-week period to make preparations for the operation. He announced that the surgical operations will commence from Monday, the 2nd of July to Saturday the 7th of July.
Speaking on the sustainability of the initiative, Dr. Paa Ekow Hoyte-Williams, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon at Greater works Restoration foundation, explained that the joint collaboration is a formidable partnership that is willing to establish the project on an expansive level. He said, the organization’s commitment to provide the expertise and services of resource personnel affirms this disposition. He also reiterated that, this year’s project marks the second edition of the programme hence the commitment to keep it sustained in subsequent years is animated. Dr. Hoyte-Williams spelled out the performance indicators for the pathology, stating that three scheduled post reviews have been planned to effectively monitor and evaluate patients’ wellness and recovery after various plastic surgery sch as epicanthoplasty.
Individuals who jolted to the screening center on Friday expressed their gratitude to the facilitators of the initiative and shared their sense of optimism for a successful operation. This project is one of the several sustainable initiatives introduced by AngloGold Ashanti company to pioneer quality healthcare for communities which covers the company’s jurisdiction.