The Global Fund approved US$130million to enable AGA scale-up the programme over a five- year period after the country’s coordinating mechanism selected the company as the principal recipient of the grant.
AngloGold Ashanti has so far solely funded the project with US$8.3million, spending well in excess of US$1million per year.
By this AGA becomes the first private company in Africa to access the grant, and the second globally.
AngloGold is partnering national agencies such as the Ministry of Health, the Ghana Health Service and the National Malaria Control Programme in implementation of the programme.
The programme, which currently has zonal offices in Obuasi and Wa, will create 3,800 jobs for people from targetted communities over the next five years.
It follows the successful pilot implementation of the Indoor Residual Spraying as a malaria control intervention by AGA in Obuasi and its surrounding communities, resulting in a 75 percent reduction of malaria cases within two years.
Mr. Steve Knowles, Director of the Malaria Control Programme, said the malaria project demonstrates AGA’s commitment to making communities better-off as a result of their association with the company.
“We strive to form partnerships with host communities, sharing their environment, traditions and values as we work together to initiate health, social and environmental projects to impact their well-being.”
Mr. Knowles said the malaria control programme is the best example of a sustainable corporate social responsibility programme for a company operating in a malaria-endemic area, with a win-win outcome for both the company and community.
In 2010 alone the country recorded 4.9 million cases of malaria, resulting in 4,000 deaths.
Malaria impacts society negatively. Key among its effects are the lost man-hours and reduced productivity, loss of school-time for students, stunted growth in children, and reduced growth in tourism.
At Obuasi, the malaria programme has not only reduced the burden of malaria in the community, increased school attendance and won the gratitude of the community, but has also reduced absenteeism at the mine, increased productivity and reduced the cost of malaria medication to employees and their dependants.
Mr. Knowles said: “The Obuasi model has become an International Gold Standard for malaria control programmes, and we have realised that our experience and expertise should be used for the greater good of the country.”
The Obuasi Malaria Control Programme was inaugurated in April 2006 with the objective of reducing the incidence of malaria in Obuasi by 50% in two years.
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