The laboratories are situated in the Kenyasi Health Centre of the Asutifi North District and the New Abirem Government Hospital in the Birim North District of the Ahafo and Eastern regions, respectively.

They were established through inter-governmental collaboration with the GHS, Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR) and the Regional and District Directors of Health Services.

The PCR laboratories are expected to directly serve the residents of the two districts with a population of over 150,000 as well as adjoining districts, thereby reducing the over-reliance on the main testing centres for infectious diseases in the country.

The facilities would ensure increased and quicker testing for COVID-19, helping in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, while also supporting the detection of other infectious diseases such as meningitis, hepatitis, yellow fever and malaria.

At a brief virtual ceremony to hand over the PCR laboratories, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, acknowledged the value of the collaboration between Newmont and the partners, describing it as “phenomenal and significant to the efforts against infectious diseases.”

 He thanked Newmont for their support adding that “since the advent of COVID-19, we have learnt how to work together effectively with the private sector. We hope that this continues so that we can all build a robust national healthcare delivery system.”

Newmont Africa’s Vice President, Sustainability and External Relations, MsAdiki O. Ayitevie, commended the partners who collaborated with Newmont to complete the project and recognised the commitment of Newmont in making the initiative a reality.

 “It is an honour to support the national effort against the pandemic with the setting up of the PCR laboratories. This is a milestone in healthcare delivery for the two districts and Newmont is certain that this will bring a great deal of relief to residents in our communities as well as the major testing centres in the country,” she stated.

Recounting the journey, the Scientific Director of KCCR, Prof.Richard Phillips, acknowledged Newmont Ghana’s generosity, the technical expertise of KCCR’s local researchers and the administrative acumen of the GHS (through the regional and district health directorates).

He indicated that the successful completion of the PCR laboratories and training of the laboratory personnel was a testament to the power of collaboration.

Prof. Phillips was optimistic that the laboratories will serve a greater purpose beyond the pandemic.