By Lake Zone Watch Writer
Women workers at Barrick Bulyanhulu and North Mara have proven the saying that nothing soothes the heart than knowing you have someone who cares for you in time of need.
During the International Women’s Day, the women chose to fulfill a mission of philanthropy by donating a variety of basic stuff and medical kit to a children’s centre and health centres respectively.
At North Mara, the women donated foodstuff, stationery, blankets, sandals, laundry soap, sanitary pads and even biscuits to the City of Hope children’s centre at Ntagacha in Tarime District.
Anyone with knowledge of the general situation at children centres around the country will share the view that it’s not an easy task to run them. The centres only depend and survive on donations which are not guaranteed. These may either come late or not at all.
Food , health and education requirements, clothing and the general wellbeing of the children depend entirely on supports and people who are compassionate about the welfare of others. In this case, North Mara women were among such people.
So, when the Director of City of Hope, Cynthia Bhoke was receiving the donations from the women, she was obviously overwhelmed with joy. She was short of words and only told them: May God grant you what you deserve.”
The women of Barrick Bulyanhulu chose health centres of Bugarama and Lunguya for their donations of a medical kit to women in the maternity and female wards .
Similarly, when it comes to health centres, so much may be missing due to insufficient budgetary allocations. As such, the administrators find themselves grappling with complaints and challenges that they cannot solve singlehandedly.
The donations from Bulyanhulu women staff thus, must have come to Bugarama and Lunguya health centres at the right time, and these will definitely change the mood at the work place and improve service delivery.
Meanwhile, the inauguration of a new facility for lactating mothers at North Mara during the International Women’s Day was a gift of its kind to women staff. They too, deserved an exceptional present for their special day.
With the new building at their disposal, mothers will now be able to breastfeed their babies during working hours.
While inaugurating the new premises, General Manager Apolinary Lyambiko said the gold mine is doing everything possible to ensure the working environment for women fulfills their basic requirements.
Indeed, the gifts given by Barrick women workers and what they received from their employer, conform to this year’s theme of the International Women’s Day: “ Invest in women for community welfare and development.” Children’s welfare and health centres are part of the many benefits of the investment .