Aurora Gold Mines Inc, a subsidiary of Guyana Goldfields, has earned the distinction of being “the largest single donor” after presenting a significant quantity of foodstuff to the National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS).
According to a Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) release, this pronouncement was made by the NAPS Programme Manager, Dr Rhonda Moore, during the handing-over ceremony on Friday at its Hadfield Street, Georgetown headquarters.
Dr Moore stated that the donation will “ensure that our food supply doesn’t run out,” for the rest of 2019 and into May 2020. It will also help feed 15 Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV) daily, more than half the amount of clients who receive the food hampers from the NAPS-run programme.
“This support will benefit the PLHIV,” Dr Moore reiterated, drawing the nexus between nutrition and the continued state of good health of NAPS beneficiaries. The food support programme helps PLHIV maintain a good body mass index (BMI) an indicator of their state of health.
“We are pleased to support NAPS to help make every Guyanese productive,” said Miranda La Rose, the firm’s Corporate Social Responsibility/Sustainability Coordinator for Guyana, who commended NAPS for the dietary initiative during her brief remarks.
Dr Moore is hopeful that the company will commit to being one of NAPS’ “longstanding partners.”
Other beneficiaries of the food distribution programme are in and out-of-school youths; unemployed young adults; HIV-positive single parents; persons living with disabilities and senior citizens
Each food hamper comprises flour, rice, peas, cheese, oil, milk butter and cereal.
The MoPH also disclosed that RAMPS Logistics, a Trinidad and Tobago Oil and Gas (O&G) firm with offices in Guyana has also committed to supporting the NAPS food bank programme annually, according to its Human Resources Manager, Cherry Ferrell.
Ferrell was present at the handing over a cheque from the company on Thursday at its Brickdam, Georgetown office to Somdatt ‘Amar’ Ramessar, NAPS Senior Social Worker/Nutritionist. Ramessar said that RAMPS has promised financial backing to the programme annually.
In return NAPS has committed itself to providing free HIV awareness and other health programmes for the staff of the institution. Next month, company employees plan to donate blood to the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS).
