Barrick Beyond Borders - May 2012 - Barrick Gold Corporation

TOP LEFT: A BARRICK-FUNDED PROGRAM PROVIDES FREE CANCER SCREENING TO WOMEN AT THE SAN ROQUE HOSPITAL IN JACHAL. TOP RIGHT: GUIDO ALTAMIRA(THIRD FROM LEFT), PRESIDENT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION OF BELLA VISTA WITH NANCY WHITE, AND BARRICK’S ARGENTINA TEAM, INCLUDINGCONSTANZA FERNANDEZ BLANCO (RIGHT). BOTTOM RIGHT: BARRICK’S LUIS PINO AND MIGUEL GRECO OUTSIDE THE TOURISM CENTER IN IGLESIA.school where 12 children were attending class. “The presence ofthis school was very important for me to be able to sell this projectto authorities,” Greco said, noting the school will soon haveaccess to running water for the first time in its 100-year history.The school’s principal, one of two staff members, pointed out aposter for Barrick’s oral hygiene program on prominent displayin the classroom. The program teaches children about good oralhygiene habits, and provides fluoride treatments, during annualschool visits by dental health specialists. I learned that everyschool in Iglesia and Jachal is participating in this program. Theprogram has been in place for nearly six years and has reachedthousands of children. It is part of a major push to improve dentalhealth and hygiene among children.“People here have to send their kids to school and put food onthe table. If a parent has to make a choice between putting food onthe table and dental work, then they will have the tooth removed.The main focus of our program is to help change attitudes aboutproper dental care and promote good hygiene so parents in thenext generation don’t have to make that choice,” Greco noted.Our next stop was the San Roque Hospital, where we hadan an opportunity to talk to medical staff about a women’sgynecological health and cancer-screening program that Barrickhas funded for the past three years. This program targets lowincomewomen living in remote communities who lack access tomedical specialists. Speaking to the passionate women runningthis program, it was clear that early detection and treatment ofgynecological diseases were helping save lives. Many of the 700women who participated last year were bused by Barrick to specialclinics where doctors performed free screenings for ovarian,uterine and breast cancer. One of the nurses on staff was proud toshow us the mammogram and other medical equipment Barrickhad donated to the hospital.PROMOTING TOURISM IN IGLESIAOne of the most striking projects I visited was the new tourismcenter for Iglesia. Greco and his team came up with the idea ofconverting a former casino into a one-stop venue to promote inrural tourism to Iglesia. Historically, this remote community hasMay 2012 25