June 17, 2011 — Video has been circulated on the internet featuring two persons with severe, chronic skin conditions. This material falsely alleges that the cause of these ailments is related to operations of the North Mara mine in Tanzania.

Further to Barrick's previous response, the following has been provided by Dr. Robert Barbour, Chief Medical Officer, Barrick Gold Corporation. This assessment is supported by Dr. Bernard Gosevitz, Corporate Medical Director, Barrick Gold Corporation.

“It appears that the young boy and woman in the video are the same individuals who were in the photographs circulating a year ago. In my opinion, the video shows nothing new to the photographs and my opinion of the diagnoses that was given a year ago has not changed. This diagnosis involved a team of medical experts, including Dr. Robert Weiss, President, Dermatology Society of South Africa. I have not seen or interviewed these two individuals and they have not come forward to be identified. However, from the video and previous photos, the elderly woman appears to have vitiligo and the boy appears to have Ichthyoids. Both illnesses are chronic, long-term diseases caused by genetics, immunological or other conditions. They were not caused by impacts associated with the North Mara operation. While the boy does appear to have grown and matured, neither individual seems to have any noticeable progression of their chronic illness.”

Dr. Robert Barbour
Chief Medical Officer
Barrick Gold Corporation

African Barrick Gold (ABG), which owns and operates the North Mara mine, is concerned about the health and well-being of this young boy and elderly woman. On humanitarian grounds, ABG’s medical professionals would welcome the opportunity to provide assistance by directing them to the appropriate medical experts.

Barrick’s statement concerning the recent police action at North Mara is available here.

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