Firm Health Ghana Foundation wins a UNDP/GEF grant to promote sustainable small-scale mining

• Posted on February 22, 2019February 22, 2019
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

Firm Health Ghana Foundation, an NGO based in Tarkwa in the Western Region of Ghana with was part of five (5) Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) awarded about 200,000 US dollars grant to implement various projects towards the elimination of mercury in gold mining and promotion of sustainable Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining in Ghana.

The project which is geared towards supporting Ghana in its efforts to formalize the artisanal and small-scale mining sector with training, technology transfer and knowledge management is aimed at promoting mining without mercury in the artisanal and small-scale mining sector.

At the grant award ceremony, the Assistant Resident Representative of UNDP Ghana, Mr. Louis Kuukpen added that UNDP through the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme is piloting the Zero Mercury programme to support the Government’s new policy framework to regularize and reform mining activities in Ghana. He therefore urged the beneficiary CSOs to work with Government institutions in executing their projects, for greater impact.

Mr. Louis Kuukpen further congratulated the new Grantees and entrusted them to work closely with the Inter-ministerial Committee on small-scale mining, the Minerals Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency and the relevant District Assemblies to ensure synergies and linkages between the national programmes and our projects.

The other grant beneficiaries include Tuning Point of Advocacy, Moaduri Women Development Projects, Ghana Institute of Sustainable Development and Zintang Healers Association. On behalf of the awardees, the Chief Executive Officer of Turning Point of Advocacy, Dr. Naa Dedei Tagoe expressed gratitude to UNDP and GEF for the opportunity and promised to put the grants into efficient use to benefit the society.

Firm Health Ghana Foundation, is a voluntary, non-governmental, non-partisan, non-profit, patient-focused and humanitarian organization, interested in the prevention of renal disease through screening for early detection and education for awareness raising. Vision – A society where renal disease no longer interfere with quality of life.

Mission – We are committed to the prevention of renal disease through awareness creation, education, community outreach, research and to improve the quality of life for all afflicted by renal diseases.

Values – We are guided by the values of Influence, Volunteerism and Team Excellence as a foundation and as individuals:

Our accomplishments

88. Public Health Radio Education Program on Dynamite FM (88.9) dubbed “Wáp?wmu dzen y3? h3n Dadwen” (Your Health, Our Concern) – Started March 2013 and is ongoing.

1. Monthly 5 Km health walk dubbed FIRMWALK (Started in May, 2016) and ongoing

1. Over the years we have screened over 7000 people through our free community renal screening project dubbed Kidney Early Evaluation Project (KEEP). Since the inception of the project, we have organized several public education and free kidney screening exercises at the following places:
2. University of Mines & Technology (UMaT) – World Kidney Day Celebration ‘13;
3. T&A Park (Tarkwa) – Republic Day Celebration 2013;

• Huni-Valley (Bogoso – Prestea) – World Kidney Day Celebration 2014;

1. Dzodze (Volta Region) – Republic Day Celebration 2014, 2015 and 2016;
2. Tarkwa Divisional Police Headquarters (Tarkwa) – Founders Day Celebration 2014;
3. Konfoase, Sekondi-Takoradi – World Kidney Day Celebration 2015;

• Tarkwa Local Prisons (Tarkwa) – Founders Day Celebration 2015;
• Ampain Refugee Camp (Ellembelle) – World Kidney Day Celebration 2016;

1. Yareyeya Community (Tarkwa) – Founders Day Celebration 2016
2. Nzulezu (Beyin, Ellembelle) – World Kidney Day Celebration 2017
3. Atuabo Community (Beyin, Ellembelle) – Founders Day Celebration 2017

• Tarkwa – World Kidney Day Celebration 2018
• Inchaban – World Diabetes Day 2018