The Omanhene of Nkwatakese who doubles as the chairman of the Ashanti Regional Steering Committee on lead poisoning, Nana Boakye Yam Ababio has urged the Ashanti Regional directors of Health services to devise strategies to take advantage of social events to educate the public on the health implications of lead poisoning.
Nana Boakye Yam Ababio has also entreated them to establish cordial relationships with community information center operators to leverage their presence in the communities to engage in the public in all forms of health education.
Speaking at the regional steering committee meeting on lead poisoning in Kumasi which forms part of efforts to step up public education on the devastating effects of lead poisoning especially among children, Nana Yam Ababio advised the directors to take advantage of such social gatherings in the most cost-effective way of reaching out to the masses with health education.
According to UNICEF, one in three children have elevated blood lead levels globally with over 50 percent of children in lower-income countries affected.
In Ghana, about 1.7 million children are estimated to have blood lead levels above five micrograms per deciliter, a concern for health authorities.
It is against this background that UNICEF is supporting the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate to implement interventions in eight selected districts and municipalities where activities that exposes human to lead poisoning thrive.
They are Afigya Kwabre South District, Asokwa Municipal, Asokore Mampong, Kwabre East District, Kwadaso, Suame Municipal, Old Tafo and Kumasi Metro.
Due to the implementation of the interventions in the selected district, their health directors attended the steering committee meeting which sought to discuss effective ways of creating public awareness on lead poisoning.
A vivid presentation highlighting sources, health implications and preventive measures to reduce exposure to lead poisoning was made with participants making inputs to shape the conversation.
Nana Boakye Yam Ababio then emphasised that, the public must not be health informed but rather be health educated to achieved the desired outcome.
He explained that, just informing them of the implications of the exposure to lead poisoning was not enough but educating them thoroughly would lead to behavioural change.
He proposed a visit to lead poisoning activity hubs in the implementing Districts by members of the committee to engage the people as part of efforts to combat the menace.
Source – Isaac Asiedu