Over a billion people worldwide are afflicted by neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), primarily in tropical and subtropical areas.
Poor communities are disproportionately affected by these illnesses because they have less access to primary medical care, clean water, and sanitary conditions.NTDs like schistosomiasis, onchocerciasis, soil-transmitted helminths (such as ascariasis and hookworm), Yaws, and Lymphatic filariasis are endemic in Ghana and are highly correlated with unfavorable environmental circumstances.In recent years, Ghana's water bodies have been increasingly devastated by galamsey, an illicit small-scale mining practice.
This is a cause for immediate and urgent concern.These operations, which involve the use of cyanide, mercury, and other hazardous chemicals in gold extraction, not only harm river systems but also significantly reduce the availability of clean water for residential use.As a result, communities dependent on these water sources are at a heightened risk of NTDs.
This article explores how galamsey exacerbates the spread of NTDs and underscores the critical need for coordinated actions to mitigate these health risks.Polluted water bodyHow Water Pollution (Galamsey) Fuels a Silent NTDs EpidemicWater quality and availability are critical not only for disease control but also when the activities of galamsey deteriorate these water bodies used for domestic use, and it becomes a precursor for waterborne and water-related disease outbreaks. Galamsey puts both at serious risk.Rivers that previously supported agriculture and provided drinking water have been contaminated by cyanide and mercury, making it necessary for communities to rely on contaminated water.The deterioration of the environment makes it easier for NTDs to spread, particularly those associated with waterborne or water-related transmission.