By Laudia Sawer
Tema, April 19, GNA – Dr Faisal Tikuma Abdallah, a Public Health Specialist from the People’s Dialogue on Human Settlements, has called on slum community dwellers to take steps to prevent air pollution in their surroundings.
Dr Abdallah told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the sidelines of a clean-up exercise and health education programme that a survey conducted by his outfit on the perception of air pollution in Tema Newtown revealed that out of 150 respondents, 99 per cent agreed that exposure to polluted air can cause illness.
He added that the findings indicated that 87 per cent of them were not satisfied with the air quality, while 63 per cent think the air quality has not been different compared to the previous three years, and 26 per cent think the air quality has been worse.
He stated that the survey findings revealed that more than half of the respondents agree that improving the environment is the responsibility of every citizen.
While 45 per cent responded that it would take at least 10 years for air quality to improve, 37 per cent think it will improve within three to five years, and 18 per cent think it will improve in the short term.
Dr Abdallah urged young people and civil society organisations (CSOs) to make clean air advocacy a major part of their everyday lives.
Meanwhile, about 200 young people in the Tema metropolis and its surroundings were organised by the People’s Dialogue on Human Settlement, in collaboration with Galaxy Fun Club and Good Deeds Day, to clean up the Tema General Hospital and educate participants about the causes, effects, and role of the youth in preventing air pollution.
The exercise, which was part of the Good Deeds Day celebration, was sponsored by the European Union Delegation to Ghana, the Hungarian Embassy, Live Right Ghana, and the Galaxy Youth Foundation, among others.
Other activities to mark the day include a free health talk and screening, a talk on air pollution and its impact on health and the environment, the free distribution of reusable shopping bags to participants, a talk on HIV/AIDS, and the free distribution of condoms to participants.
Good Deeds Day is celebrated on a chosen Sunday in April annually, with this year’s own falling on April 14.
It is aimed at promoting the act of giving back to the community in whatever way people can.
GNA