FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WITH PICTURE
OCTOBER 10 2024

Kagem boosts community healthcare  

LUFWANYAMA, ZAMBIA – The Nkana Health Centre management team have shown their gratitude towards Kagem Mining Limited (Kagem), for the repair of crucial equipment and provision of medical and cleaning supplies, fuel and means of transportation. These donations are helping medical staff improve patient care for the approximately 15,000 community members that the health centre serves.  

In appreciation of the support provided by Kagem, the Nkana Health Centre Nurse-in-Charge, Mrs Bwalya Nkunde – who received the donations on behalf of the centre – thanked Kagem for the gesture as the items would help serve patients more efficiently. 

Kagem has donated both medical supplies and equipment to the centre on several occasions; the latest being an assortment of medical and cleaning supplies to Nkana Health Centre amounting to about ZMW 70,130 donated in June this year. The supplies included blood pressure reading apparatus, glucose reading apparatus, thermometers, microscopic slides, ward linen, disinfectants, and other cleaning utensils. 

Ms Joy Mushimbami, Community Health Worker at Nkana Health Centre, said: “We are grateful to Kagem for the work that they are doing here at Nkana Health Centre, and we hope that they continue with the same.” 

Additionally, Kagem donated towards labour costs for fixing the incinerator in May 2024. The company has also supported medical missions and logistics operations at Nkana Health Centre through fuel donations. 

Kagem’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Irvine Mwitwa said: “Accessing basic healthcare in rural areas can be a challenging endeavour with infrastructure, distance, manpower and supplies among the key impediments. As the Government looks to improve countrywide service delivery in the healthcare systems, the opportunity presents itself for well-meaning companies such as Kagem to reinforce these efforts and positively impact the lives of the communities in which we operate.”  

While distance can be a challenge for patients in the more remote areas wishing to access healthcare services, this also applies to field health workers needing to access these communities. Kagem presented 20 bicycles, worth about ZWM 89,000, to the District Health Office during the recent ‘End Malaria’ campaign event, held in September. These bicycles will be distributed to identified health facilities including the Nkana Health Centre. 

On the occasion, Mr Gilead Lungwa, Community Health Worker at Nkana Centre said: “We are grateful to Kagem for giving the bicycles as they provide a means of transportation for us.” 

The Nkana Health Centre was expanded and rehabilitated with funds from Kagem in 2016, complementing its existing clinical structures and expanding the services. Kagem has maintained its affiliation to the centre over the years, providing necessary and timely support.  

Kagem funds community projects that strive to deliver long-term benefits to local people in the areas of health, education and livelihoods by supporting schools, health centres and farming cooperatives.  

-ENDS- 

CONTACT
Enquiries
Gillian Langmead
Langmead & Baker Ltd
Tel: +260 979 060705
info@langmead.com

Head office
Helena Choudhury
Head of PR and Communications
Tel: +44 (0)207 518 3420 / +44 (0)7493 237598
helena.choudhury@gemfields.com

Albertina Namburete 
PR Manager 
Tel: +44 (0)783 325 7387 
Albertina.namburete@gemfields.com

Kagem responsible sourcing highlights

• Kagem is committed to ensuring that the community continues to benefit positively from its operations through various sustainability programmes focused on alleviating poverty and aligned with government policies, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Vision 2030.
• Up to December 2022, Kagem had spent USD 3 million on community projects, and has committed further.
• Kagem constructed, expanded and rehabilitated 5 schools providing education to more than 2,000 students. 
• Kagem committed USD 345,000 on top of previous provisions of USD 345,000 in university scholarships in geology and mining engineering. 
• Kagem and Gemfields Foundation built and equipped two computer labs at Kapila Primary School and Chapula Secondary School. 
• Kagem constructed 1 fully equipped health centre, the Nkana Health Centre, serving a population of 15,000. 
• Kagem improved Chief Nkana and Chief Lumpuma’s palaces and rehabilitated 18.7km road connecting Chief Nkana and Chief Lumpuma’s chiefdoms. 
• Kagem provides support to 5 farming associations benefiting more than 100 farmers and their families. 
• Kagem supports the Zambian Carnivore Programme (ZCP) having committed a total of USD 400,000 since 2018 to 2027 and provided a one-off donation of USD 70,000 to the North Luangwa Conservation Programme (NLCP). 
• Kagem signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Zambia to fund the construction of the Chapula Polytechnic in Lufwanyama. 
• Kagem employs more than 1,500 people, of which, 94% are Zambian nationals. 

About Kagem Mining
Kagem Mining Ltd, based in Lufwanyama, is believed to be the world’s single largest producing emerald mine. Kagem is 75% owned by Gemfields, in a model partnership with the Zambian government. 
Kagem aims to emulate the values of Gemfields and operate in a way that contributes positively to the national economy, while taking a leading role in modernising the coloured gemstone sector and building sustainable livelihoods for the communities around the mine. Kagem believes that coloured gemstones should be mined and marketed by championing three key values – transparency, legitimacy and integrity.  
Gemfields is a world-leading responsible miner and marketer of coloured gemstones. In addition to Kagem, Gemfields is the operator and 75% owner of Montepuez Ruby Mining in Mozambique (at one of the most significant recently discovered ruby deposits in the world), as well as bulk sampling licences in Ethiopia, amongst others.   
Gemfields has developed a proprietary grading system and a pioneering auction and trading platform to provide a consistent supply of coloured gemstones to the global jewellery market.  
Fabergé – an iconic name with an exceptional heritage – is a member of the Gemfields Group. The beauty of Fabergé’s designs and craftsmanship, helps to raise consumer awareness of responsibly mined coloured gemstones. 
As well as supplying a significant share of the world’s rough rubies and emeralds, Gemfields initiates activations to build desire for coloured gemstones: for example, collaborations with international jewellery brands and other creative partners. Often surprising, unexpected and unique, these collaborations are chosen to promote consumer awareness and increase the appeal of coloured gemstones, raising their profile, and, in turn, providing greater benefit to their place of origin in Africa. 

Gemfields: Gemfields.com | Investors | Foundation  | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube
Fabergé: Fabergé.com | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube
Kagem Mining: LinkedIn
Montepuez Ruby Mining: LinkedIn