AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine initiates construction of modern NICU in Tarkwa

GHANA—AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine has initiated the construction of a state-of-the-art Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for the Tarkwa Municipal Hospital at Bogrekrom in Ghana’s Western Region.

This project, valued at US$1 million, aims to provide high-quality healthcare for pre-term infants and those born with health complications.

The facility will be outfitted with cutting-edge medical technology and will include a ward for NICU babies, an Outpatient Department (OPD), consulting rooms, conference rooms, offices, and a resting area for nursing mothers, among other amenities.

The Ghana News Agency has reported that Whilhelm Limited, a local contractor, will handle the construction, which is funded by AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine and expected to be completed within six months.

At the sod-cutting ceremony, Mr. Stephen Adjei, Senior Manager of Sustainability at the mine, emphasized the urgent need for this NICU.

Currently, the hospital has a makeshift NICU where premature and critically ill babies are housed in the same room, posing a significant risk of infection due to their varying immune levels.

On average, the hospital admits eighty babies per month to the NICU, with pre-term infants staying from two to eight weeks, leading to severe congestion.

Mr. Adjei explained that the decision to invest in this project was driven by a belief that health is a fundamental human right.

 He noted that access to quality healthcare should not be a privilege for a select few but a standard available to all, reflecting their sustainability efforts.

He expressed gratitude to all stakeholders who contributed to making this vision a reality and highlighted the positive impact the NICU would have on improving the survival rates of premature and critically ill infants.

He added that the NICU’s construction symbolizes the ongoing journey towards building a healthier, more resilient community and aligns with their purpose of mining to empower people and advance societies.

Mr. Jeremiah Tiimob, the Deputy Director of Administration at the Western Regional Health Directorate, expressed the Ghana Health Service’s (GHS) excitement about the project.

He noted that it would help achieve the GHS goals of reducing neonatal and under-five mortality rates and promote a comprehensive approach to healthcare delivery involving communities, traditional authorities, assemblies, and corporate institutions.

Additionally, Madam Selina Arthur, a nurse from Tarkwa Municipal Hospital, highlighted the current challenges faced by nursing mothers who are forced to sleep outside due to a lack of accommodation, often resulting in malaria.

The new facility will provide a stable resting place for these mothers, allowing them to stay close to their babies and breastfeed them.

Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Tarkwa Nsuaem, Mr. Benjamin Kessie, acknowledged that the project was initiated by traditional authorities and local residents but required the financial support of Iduapriem Mine due to its high cost.

He expressed gratitude to the mine for undertaking this bold initiative and hoped for the project’s timely completion to save pre-term babies and those born with deformities.

 Nana Kwaku Twum, Chief of Brenuakyim and Chairman of the NICU Committee , concluded by thanking the mine’s management, noting that the project’s completion would alleviate the stress experienced by workers, nursing mothers, and their relatives due to the current lack of space at the hospital’s NICU.