STORY BY MICHAEL OFOSU-AFRIYIE, KUMASI.
COVID-19 SURGE, MANSO ADUBIA: MINING COMPANY DONATES PPE TO SCHOOLS
Schools in the Amansie South District of the Ashanti Region have received 10,000 nose masks and face shields to protect both teachers and pupils against the novel coronavirus as the virus still remains a health threat to society.
The gesture by Heritage Imperial Mining Company, a gold mining firm in the area was part of its corporate Social Responsibility as a mining company in providing its quota to supplement the efforts made by the government in mitigating the impact of coronavirus.
The mining company manned by Ghanaians since their operation has been embarking on series of developmental projects within its catchment areas to contribute to addressing pressing social and environmental problems facing these communities.
Report gathered by this journalist indicated that some schools in the District are yet to receive their Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) after resuming though most of the schools have already gotten theirs.
DISTRICT EDUCATION DIRECTOR:
In an interview with the District Education Director, Mr. Stephen Adu Darko when Heritage Imperial Mining Company presented 10,000 pieces of nose masks and face shields to the District Assembly to be distributed to various schools, he indicated that parents have been implored to provide their wards with the masks when coming to school as they wait for that of government.
Mr. Stephen Adu Darko again commented that school has been effective after reopening and level of compliance in regards to the Covid -19 Safety protocols is quite encouraging commending teachers for their supervision.
“ In fact we have received tissue papers and Veronica buckets more than enough and what we are looking forward to receiving are nose masks of which we are told will be in shortly “he added.
The District Education Director mentioned that no single student or pupil has tested positive of coronavirus since school reopened.
He later appreciated the gestures of the mining company and called other companies to emulate in protecting the lives of the young ones against the novel pandemic.
APPRECIATION:
The DCE in the area, Hon Clement Opoku Gyamfi, noted that in as much as the government is striving hard to protect the young ones in schools against the pandemic, there is also the need for individuals, groups, institutions to also support this worthy course in fighting the virus.
Reacting to the ban on social activities like funerals, weddings among others, the District Chief Executive said the assembly together with the Police will be enforcing the restrictions in order to mitigate the spread of coronavirus in the area.
He added that the residents have been compliance to the covid-19 safety protocols especially with the wearing of nose masks, saying if this continues
SUPERVISOR:
A Senior Supervisor at Heritage imperial mining company, Prince Kwame Asante after the presentation said the company was inspired to donate these face masks which currently have become one essential “ commodity “ in the world today to the schools because they need to argument the effort by the government in fighting coronavirus in schools.
Ghana recorded her first case of the novel pandemic in March last year and since then the Government have been imposing restrictions on some activities.
However, getting to the end of the year, some restrictions were eased when the case counts begin to decrease but unfortunately after the yuletide, the case counts have risen sharply compelling the President to re-impose ban on some social gatherings.
According to the President HE Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo on his 23rd address on measures taken to mitigate the pandemic in the country, Ghana has been recording 700 case counts daily which he described as worrying.
He has therefore urged all to comply with safety protocols since it is the surest way of avoiding the infections.
