By Victoria Agyemang
Koforidua (E/R), May 28, GNA – Vital Strategies, a global public health organisation, has organised a three-day capacity-building workshop for journalists to enhance media reporting on lead poisoning exposure risks and prevention in Ghana.
The training, held in Koforidua in the Eastern Region, brought together journalists from print, radio, television and online media platforms to deepen their understanding of the harmful effects of lead exposure, particularly among children and vulnerable populations.
Participants were taken through the sources of lead contamination, health implications, policy interventions, and the role of the media in promoting public awareness and accountability on environmental health issues.
Speaking at the workshop, Madam Sumi Mehta, the Vice President of Vital Strategies said lead poisoning remained a major but underreported public health concern in many low-and middle-income countries, including Ghana.
She noted that exposure to lead, commonly found in paints, cosmetics, batteries, contaminated soil and some consumer products, could result in serious health complications such as brain damage, learning difficulties, kidney problems and developmental disorders in children.
Madam Mehta urged journalists to use their platforms to educate the public on preventive measures and advocate stronger enforcement of regulations on lead-containing products.
“Journalists play a critical role in shaping public discourse and influencing policy action. Through accurate and sustained reporting, the media can help reduce exposure to lead and protect communities,” a facilitator stated.
The workshop also highlighted the need for collaboration between government agencies, civil society organisations, health experts and the media to address environmental health challenges.
Some participants commended Vital Strategies for the initiative, describing the training as timely and insightful.
They pledged to prioritise stories on environmental and public health issues to help increase public understanding of lead poisoning and preventive measures.
The training formed part of ongoing efforts by Vital Strategies and its partners including Bloomberg Philanthropies to support public education and advocacy aimed at reducing lead exposure and improving environmental health outcomes in Ghana.
GNA
Edited by Alice Tettey /Kenneth Odeng Adade