Newmont Ghana has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR) to support government’s effort against the Covid-19 pandemic.
Under a GH¢3.1 million agreement, Newmont would procure a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing machines, ancillary equipment, reagents and other consumables for KCCR to enable it scale up its testing.
KCCR would intend help Newmont set up two laboratories for Covid-19 and other infectious disease at Ahafo and Akyem host communities.
KCCR is one of the major testing centres overwhelmed by increasing number of samples brought in daily.
Newmont’s Vice President in charge of Sustainability and External Relations in Africa, Adiki Ayitevie, said the MoU is part of the company’s initiative to support Covid-19 efforts in operating jurisdictions with funds from the global community support fund.
It would be spending GH¢1million in employee and community health, food security and local economic resilience initiatives within and beyond its host communities.
Beneficiary institutions are Birim North Health Service, Birim North District Assembly, Birim Central Assembly, Asutifi North District Assembly, Asutifi North Health Service, Asutifi North District Police service, Tano North Municipal and the Tano North Health Service.
In April, Newmont Ghana donated US$50,000 to help purchase test kits for Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research and the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine.
By Yvonne Neequaye|3news.com|Ghana