The Ghana Health Service (GHS) is recommending that people prioritize staying indoors, especially those suffering from respiratory conditions, in light of the country’s declining air quality.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has expressed alarm about the growing health dangers linked to Accra’s air pollution and the pressing need for quick action to address this serious problem.
On Tuesday, the real-time air quality in Accra’s Cantonments neighborhood, for example, was assessed as extremely unhealthy (263).
Dr. Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, the Director of Public Health at the Ghana Health Service, stated that the stakeholders are working together to release a guideline regarding the development.
He said, “Accra’s air quality is unhealthy. People should try to remain indoors if possible and drink lots of water to hydrate.”
“From the public health point of view, I think that we drafted a guideline, but it is somehow dependent on the measurement of air quality from EPA and Meteorological Agency. Clearly based on the value that is recorded, you are supposed to exhibit certain behaviours.”
“Is about education, enforcement and behaviour check, so if you are someone with a respiratory condition like asthma, you are more vulnerable, in that case, you need to be careful about how you expose yourself to these pollutants in the environment.”
“Based on their graduations, when you are around orange, then you are supposed to be more of indoors than outdoors … hopefully in the next few days, we are going to communicate to Ghanaians that you also anticipate your risk and determine the kind of activities you go into,” Dr Asiedu-Bekoe told Asaase Radio.
