Health implications of gold minning for mine workers in Obuasi

Abstract

The increased trend of health problems in the extractive industries including gold mining has been a major concern in recent times. Communities, workers, NGOs and government agencies have been looking at the best ways to reduce these unfortunate incidents to a minimum. This study was conducted at the Obuasi Municipality of Ghana, to find out the health implications of gold mining in the areas of common water related diseases and common-air related diseases of Anglo gold Ashanti (AGA) operations on inhabitants' health. The study depended on primary data collected from the field through interview schedule method and questionnaire administration and secondary data from the Obuasi Municipal Health Directorate. The study identified that pipe-borne water was the major source of drinking water for the majority of the people. Diarrhoea and typhoid; and respiratory tract infections were the main common water-related and alrrelated diseases respectively in the Obuasi Municipality. Malaria came first as the most prevalent disease in the municipality. With regard to the causes of the prevalent diseases, poor sanitation, polluted water, and dusty and smoky environment were mentioned. Among the recommendations suggested is the need for AGA management to increase its education on the use of Personal Protective Equipments (PPE), to suppress dust, backfill mined-out pits on time, enforcement of exit and periodic medical examination, and establish an Environmental Protection Agency office (EPA) in the Obuasi Municipality.