Ghana works at mitigating impact of climate change

The Ministry of Health (MoH) is collaborating with the Ministry of Agriculture on adaptation and mitigation programmes to assist communities to build capacity to deal with the effects of climate change.

The ministry is further calling for the strengthening of international collaboration and co-ordination in building sustainable systems capable of responding effectively to the threat of climate change. 

The Minister of Health, Ms Sherry Ayittey, made this known when she addressed the 67th World Health Assembly meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. 

Clean environment

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that harmful “cookstove” smoke is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality as it leads to non-communicable diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and cancers in sub-Saharan African countries including Ghana. 

The minister, who announced to the assembly that Ghana endorsed the strategic direction of the WHO in the area of strengtheninghealth systems, said the government had taken steps to promote sustainable and efficient energy utilisation in the country.

As part of efforts to move toward a clean environment, the government, she said, had also set an ambitious but achievable goal of transitioning 50 per cent of the population to Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) as their primary cooking fuel by 2015. 

Also, she said, the government had initiated the National Tree Planting Programme and One Tree Per Child Project to address the scourge of deforestation.

Mining

She said mining activities were increasingly becoming a major source of challenge to the environment and the health of the people. 

She said the depletion of water bodies caused water-borne diseases and affected the fishing industry in the country and in many other countries, placing a great strain on the health system as well as the economy.

She said it was, therefore, imperative for activities of mining companies to be effectively regulated and co-ordinated to ensure their contribution to our efforts to reduce health risks associated with climate change. 

Writer's email: rebecca.quaicoe-duho@graphic.com.gh