IAMGOLD : Rosebel Community Fund contributes US$ 250,000 to the fight against COVID-19

Rosebel Community Fund contributes US$ 250,000 to the fight against COVID-19

Supporting our Zero Harm approach, the Rosebel Community Fund Foundation (RCF) in Suriname, which focuses on sustainable community development, has donated $US 250,000 towards COVID-19 healthcare and preventative measures.

Recently, in a donation worth US$ 113,000, RCF officially handed over medical equipment and tools intended for COVID-19 healthcare to the Paramaribo Academic Hospital (AZP). 'With this donation, we hope to help provide adequate support for COVID-19 patients in Suriname,' says Sharmila Jadnanansing, Country Director, Rosebel Gold Mines and RCF Chair, who presented the donation to AZP on behalf of RCF.

The donation consists of a state-of-the-art Phillips Premium CX50 Ultrasound machine, needed to make images of the lungs for diagnostic purposes, medical protective equipment and three NextGen PCR machines for processing COVID-19 diagnostic tests. Ms. Marica-Redan, General Manager, AZP, stated that the hospital has built a strong relationship with Rosebel over the years and recalled the various donations and contributions it has already received.

RCF also received a request from the Bureau of Public Health to repair the cooling system of the Central Laboratory, where several rooms and laboratory instruments must be maintained at specific temperatures for the completion of tests, including COVID-19. RCF and the Suriname Environmental and Mining Foundation will each finance half of the costs, which total US$ 104,000.

Support for village communities around the mine

To raise COVID-19 awareness in village communities surrounding Rosebel in rural Brokopondo region, the company joined forces with the Surinamese Red Cross and the Medical Mission to develop posters and short awareness films in local languages.

RCF has also started donating personal protective equipment worth US$ 65,000 to the outpatient clinics in village communities, including the residences of the traditional authority in Dyumu and Pusugrunu.

A 'Community COVID-19 Field Squad' is also in preparation. This is a multidisciplinary team of 20 people drawn from the traditional authority, government officials, Rosebel employees and local residents who will be trained to raise awareness about COVID-19 in the villages. This initiative is similar to the Rosebel Field Squad at the minesite, which has contributed to managing COVID-19 successfully within the company.

Various resources have been made available to the communities, such as thermometers for the traditional authority, as well as hand sanitizer, disinfectant and fabric for making masks for village residents. Since the COVID-19 outbreak began in Suriname, over 10,000 masks have been made and delivered to Rosebel by residents of the surrounding villages, creating an additional revenue source.

With the aim of promoting awareness of COVID-19 among young people, RCF has also funded the printing of 5,000 copies of 'Information for Children and Adolescents on Coronavirus and COVID-19', a book by Indra-Hu, author of youth and children's books. Many of the copies are intended for the communities surrounding the Rosebel mine.

In summary, Sharmila added: 'At Rosebel, we have not been spared from COVID-19 infections. We are grateful that the spread of the virus is under control thanks to the tremendous efforts of all employees, medical experts and our partners. As a company, we remain alert and monitor compliance with COVID-19 protocols. The coronavirus has a huge impact on our society and, with these donations, we hope to contribute to fighting it'.