 has expressed deep concern over what it describes as a growing public health crisis in communities affected by illegal mining (galamsey) activities, citing a sharp rise in cases of kidney and liver diseases.){kind=link}
The Government and Hospital Pharmacists Association (GHOSPA) has expressed deep concern over what it describes as a growing public health crisis in communities affected by illegal mining (galamsey) activities, citing a sharp rise in cases of kidney and liver diseases.
According to the association, recent medical reports indicate that residents in mining-endemic areas are increasingly suffering from renal and hepatic complications caused by mercury and other toxic metals contaminating water sources.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Pharmacy Technicians Association of Ghana’s (PTAC) 16th Annual General Conference held in Kumasi on October 17, the National Chairman of GHOSPA, Dr Emmanuel Owiafe, warned that the situation poses a serious threat to public health.
“Several patients are now being reported with increased issues related to their kidneys and livers, and it is becoming a menace to the entire population. That is why we, as the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana and GHOSPA alike, are calling for swift and decisive action from the government,” Dr Owiafe stated.
The conference, which was themed “Transforming Pharmacy Technicians Education and Practice in Ghana: 50 Years of Innovation, Excellence and Impact,” brought together key stakeholders in the pharmaceutical sector to discuss emerging health concerns and the evolving role of pharmacy professionals in national health care delivery.
Dr Owiafe lamented that despite several warnings issued by health experts over the years, illegal mining continues to endanger lives, not only through environmental degradation but also through toxic exposure leading to chronic illnesses.
“We have examined several aspects of the health effects of galamsey. The decision now must be something decisive that the government can take,” he stressed.
GHOSPA and the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana are therefore urging the government to intensify efforts to curb galamsey operations, enforce environmental safety regulations, and provide screening and treatment interventions for communities already exposed to contaminated water sources.