BARRICK LUMWANA PLEDGES WATER, SANITATION SUPPORT
BARRICK Lumwana Mining Company will support in water and sanitation initiatives to address community challenges.
Country Executive Director Nathan Chishimba said the initiatives were vital in improving water supply and good sanitation in communities, and preventing cholera.
Mr Chishimba was speaking in a speech read for him by Barrick Lumwana Sustainability Manager Christopher Mukala at a handover ceremony of cholera prevention kits valued at K130, 017 at Lumwana Hospital during the week.
“Preventing and control of cholera requires concerted efforts from everyone. In the long term, Lumwana Mining Company will continue to support initiatives in water and sanitation as they are challenges.
“In this regard, we have also supported the Lumwana East Community with five water kiosks, a community dam which is set for handover soon, and through the Finnish Embassy have facilitated support to the Manyama MEMA Trust to undertake more options for portable water access.”
Among items donated were 90 x 25 kg bags of granular chlorine (K6,210); 80 x 30 litres of sodium hypochlorite [K39, 273.60]; 60 shovel lasher [K6,600.00]; 150 x 25kg bags of lime [K6,853.50]; 20 cholera rapid [K22, 000]; 80 x 500 mile bottles of hand sanitizer[K7,480]; 80 water test kits; and 20 disinfectant pynol [K28,400].
He said the cholera kits would cater for both Solwezi and Kalumbila district health offices as part of the company’s commitment to responsible mining. The host communities and local government would decide on allocations.
Mr Chishimba said Barrick Lumwana was concerned about the cholera outbreak reported in some parts of the country and said his company took a proactive role by joining the multi-sectoral response initiated by Government against the epidemic.
“Lumwana Mining Company is a corporate citizen in this country and believes in mutual undertakings to support the community and the nation at large.
“The outbreak of cholera epidemic cannot be left to Government alone but requires the efforts of all multi-sectoral stakeholders,” Mr Chishimba said.
And Kalumbila District Commissioner Robinson Kalota said the gesture would go a long way in preventing cholera outbreak in the districts, adding that Barrick Lumwana had demonstrated that it cares for its employees as members of the local community.
“In terms of preparedness, the donation shows how prepared we are through your good help. I would appeal to you not to end here. This is an ongoing exercise, we shouldn’t wait for cholera to break out, then we start preparing,” Mr Kalota said.
And Kalumbia District Health director Mando Phiri said the fight against diarrhoeal diseases could be won through partnerships with community and corporate institutions like Lumwana Mine.
“We are deeply grateful for the many items you have given us. The fight against cholera or faecal oral diseases can only be fought if we have partnerships,” he said.
Dr Phiri said Kalumbila district health office was committed to utilising the donated commodities to saveh uman life. - Story courtesy of SUMA SYSTEMS