The Government and Hospital Pharmacists Association (GHOSPA) has sounded the alarm over a surge in kidney and liver diseases in communities ravaged by illegal mining (popularly known as galamsey).
The association blames the high levels of mercury and toxic metals contaminating water sources for the alarming trend. The National Chairman of GHOSPA, Dr. Emmanuel Owiafe, made these remarks on the sidelines of Pharmacy Technicians Association of Ghana’s (PTAC) 16th Annual General Conference in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.
He warned that the situation poses a significant public health threat, requiring immediate government attention. “A number of patients are now being reported with increased issues related to their kidneys and livers, and it is becoming a menace to the entire population,” he stressed. Dr. Owiafe emphasized that the association has long highlighted the health risks of galamsey and urged authorities to take decisive action.
“We have examined several aspects of the health effects of galamsey. The decision now must be something decisive that the government can take,” he emphasized, calling for swift and decisive government intervention to curb the practice. The association believes it’s time for authorities to move beyond dialogue and take concrete steps to address the issue.
