Aya Gold & Silver Completes Its First Mobile Health Clinic Benefiting the Local Communities

MONTREAL, June 9, 2022 /CNW Telbec/ - Aya Gold & Silver Inc. (TSX: AYA) (OTCQX: AYASF) ("Aya" or the "Corporation") is pleased to announce completion of its first mobile health clinic near its Zgounder Silver Mine in the Kingdom of Morocco. The initiative forms part of the 2022 ESG program launched by the Corporation to support the local communities.

Aim

• Establish a database of patients with diabetes and high blood pressure ("HBP") to enable the regular follow-up of positive cases by local health services

Impact

• Improved screening, treatment, and outcomes of patients with diabetes and HBP by helping set up a case database and funding a diabetes- and HBP-focused mobile clinic
• A total of 1,625 patients screened over 12 days
• 113 douars (small rural villages) covered with two ambulances
• Over 60% of beneficiaries are female
• Almost 50% of people screened were aged 60+
• More than 70% of people screened had HBP
• Almost 70% of positive diabetes patients were women
• Three additional mobile health clinics are planned for this year

"We are delighted with the success of our first mobile health clinic, which is an important step in our journey to becoming a trusted health partner within our local communities. This ESG initiative, which complements our recent renovation of the Askaoun health clinic benefiting 13,000 villagers, provided door-to-door registration and screening of patients living in remote areas within the various local communities. We are integrating our own doctors and nurses and are strongly committed through continued funding to improving the social outcomes of all local communities," said Benoit La Salle, President and CEO.

A video of the Corporation's first mobile health clinic can be viewed here.

Background

Globally, the prevalence of non-communicable diseases ("NCDs") has reached alarming levels. Some two-thirds of annual deaths are due to NCDs, particularly cardiovascular diseases related to diabetes and HBP. These chronic diseases represent major public health challenges for both developed and developing countries.

In Morocco, patients primarily visit mobile health clinics with HBP- and diabetes-related concerns. HBP increases with age: 54% (Moroccans aged 40-50), 72.2.% (Moroccans 65+), compared to 10% of the general population. 

Aya Gold & Silver Inc. is a rapidly growing, Canada-based silver producer with operations in the Kingdom of Morocco.

The only TSX-listed pure silver mining company, Aya operates the high-grade Zgounder Silver Mine and is exploring its properties along the prospective South-Atlas Fault, several of which have hosted past-producing mines and historical resources. Aya's Moroccan mining assets are complemented by its Tijirit Gold Project in Mauritania, which is being advanced to feasibility.

Aya's management team is focused on maximising shareholder value by anchoring sustainability at the heart of its production, resource, governance, and financial growth plans.

For additional information, please visit Aya's website at www.ayagoldsilver.com.

This press release contains certain statements that constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws ("forward-looking statements"), which reflects management's expectations regarding Aya's future growth and business prospects (including the timing and development of new deposits and the success of exploration activities) and other opportunities. Wherever possible, words such as "potential", "could", "opportunity", "support", "suggest", "expected", "probably", and similar expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will", or are "likely" to be taken, occur or be achieved, have been used to identify such forward-looking information. Specific forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements and information with respect to the exploration and development potential of Zgounder and the conversion of Inferred Mineral Resources into Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources, future opportunities for enhancing development at Zgounder, and timing for the release of the Company's disclosure in connection with the foregoing. Although the forward-looking information contained in this press release reflect management's current beliefs based upon information currently available to management and based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, Aya cannot be certain that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking information. Such forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions, opinions and analysis made by management in light of its experience, current conditions, and its expectations of future developments that management believe to be reasonable and relevant but that may prove to be incorrect. These assumptions include, among other things, the closing and timing of financing, the ability to obtain any requisite governmental approvals, the accuracy of Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource Estimates (including, but not limited to, ore tonnage and ore grade estimates), silver price, exchange rates, fuel and energy costs, future economic conditions, anticipated future estimates of free cash flow, and courses of action. Aya cautions you not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements.

The risks and uncertainties that may affect forward-looking statements include, among others: the inherent risks involved in exploration and development of mineral properties, including government approvals and permitting, changes in economic conditions, changes in the worldwide price of silver and other key inputs, changes in mine plans (including, but not limited to, throughput and recoveries being affected by metallurgical characteristics) and other factors, such as project execution delays, many of which are beyond the control of Aya, as well as other risks and uncertainties which are more fully described in Aya's 2021 Annual Information Form dated March 31, 2022, and in other filings of Aya with securities and regulatory authorities which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Aya does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements should assumptions related to these plans, estimates, projections, beliefs, and opinions change. Nothing in this document should be construed as either an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy or sell Aya securities. All references to Aya include its subsidiaries unless the context requires otherwise.

SOURCE Aya Gold & Silver Inc

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