FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WITH PICTURE
SEPTEMBER 29, 2021
FQM ENHANCES ITS
COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMMES IN NORTH-WESTERN PROVINCE
KALUMBILA, ZAMBIA – First Quantum Minerals has launched a community health programme aimed at complementing government’s efforts to improve the health and wellness of people in rural townships.
The initiative, aptly named Butuntulu Bwa Nyaunda – loosely translating to ‘community health and wellness’ – is a community development centric programme that seeks to address health concerns in townships in and around the mine’s catchment areas.
“Through community needs assessments and engagement in partnership with the Ministry of Health, His Royal Highness Senior Chief Musele Nsokantanda, we came up with a list of health requirements that identified the need for a healthcare system upgrade in local communities,” said FQM’s Trident Foundation Manager, Joseph Ngwira.
“We also identified the need to improve the health infrastructure to enhance public health support as well as HIV/AIDS, malaria management, epidemic and pandemic preparedness and response strategies.”
Speaking at the same event, FQM’s Health and Wellness Manager, Kylie Van Der Merwe said that the programme was aimed at supporting the existing government health systems in terms of providing essential health care services in rural areas.
“FQM has a long-standing commitment towards supporting communities surrounding the mine site and the Butuntulu Bwa Nyaunda initiative is a continuation of this support,” she said.
And in his keynote address during the programme’s launch, Senior Chief Musele of the Lunda speaking people of Kalumbila District in North-Western Province commended First Quantum minerals for launching the initiative, saying that the move illustrated the mine’s willingness to partner locals in fostering development in its catchment areas.
“This programme which has come, has come to improve healthcare delivery and the healthcare system in Kalumbila,” he said.
Acting Kalumbila District Commissioner Frank Siatwinda commended First Quantum for helping to uplift the living standards in rural communities, adding that it was the Government’s desire to make rural areas attractive in terms of investment prospects which would play a key role in reducing rural-urban migration.
“And we can only make rural areas attractive, when we provide the necessary services that our people require. When we provide accommodation or staff houses for health workers, we can make rural areas attractive.”
The core of FQM’s health care support structure is to grow healthy communities in its areas of operations which in turn will ensure the country’s labour pool remains productive thus contributing national GDP growth.
-Ends-
About First Quantum Minerals Ltd
First Quantum Minerals Ltd is a global metals and mining company producing mainly copper, gold and zinc. The company’s assets are in Zambia, Spain, Mauritania, Australia, Finland, Turkey, Panama, Argentina and Peru.
In 2020, First Quantum globally produced 779,000 tonnes of copper, 265,000 ounces of gold and 13,000 tonnes of nickel.
In Zambia it operates the Kansanshi mine – the largest copper mine in Africa by production – and smelter and the Sentinel mine in Kalumbila.
The company is listed on the Lusaka and Toronto stock exchanges.
http://www.first-quantum.com/
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