In partnership with the Kirpalani Foundation and the Academic Hospital Paramaribo, IAMGOLD recently opened Suriname’s first eye care hospital, a modern facility that will provide highly-specialized care for generations to come.  

This initiative is part of IAMGOLD’s community development program, which aims to contribute tangible benefits to our host communities by fostering economic growth, improving access to health and education, and investing in sport and cultural projects.   

“As the parent company of our subsidiary Rosebel Gold Mines, we strive to achieve exemplary corporate citizenship within the Surinamese community. It is the core purpose of IAMGOLD to enrich the lives of our stakeholders; one way we do this is through investing in sustainable projects that add value to the entire community,” said Bruno Lemelin, IAMGOLD’s Senior Vice President, Operations and Projects, who was present at the inauguration of the hospital in July.  

“When this project was presented to IAMGOLD back in 2018, we were very excited to contribute to it. It is an especially good feeling to see all that has been put in place and that we were able to help create a facility that will serve generations to come,” he added. 

It was back in November 2018 that the project started when IAMGOLD, Kirpalani Foundation and the Academic Hospital Paramaribo joined forces by entering into an agreement to convert the then-eye care clinic, which was missing necessary advanced eye care technology, into a state-of-the-art eye care hospital. To date, a total of $4 million has been invested in the facility thanks to the three partners and the support of Suriname’s National Development Bank (NOB) and the Surinamese government. 

Surinamese President Chandrikapersad Santhoki who was also present on the day of the inauguration expressed his sincere appreciation to IAMGOLD. “You have shown your commitment and corporate social responsibility as a gold company, and in doing so, you are supporting the Surinamese community. On behalf of my government and the people of Suriname, I express my sincere thanks for your contribution,” the president said at the unveiling.  

This investment comes in addition to other donations IAMGOLD has made in recent years along with its subsidiary Rosebel Gold Mines. Together they donated several pieces of medical equipment to the Academic Hospital Paramaribo and other medical facilities in the district of Brokopondo, where IAMGOLD operates.  

The new eye care hospital will provide critical care to Surinamese people and service other neighbouring countries as well.  

Blog article written with the assistance of Rachel Kasketi, External Relations Advisor at our Rosebel mine (Suriname).