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Five-day scientific symposium opens in Accra

Accra, Nov. 19, GNA
– A five-day Scientific Symposium of the West African Postgraduate College of
Environmental Health (WAPCEH) is underway in Accra to chart the way forward in
addressing the challenges of climate change.

The symposium brings
together environmental health practitioners in the sub-region and is being held
on under theme: “Climate Change and one Health Implications for Human,
Animal and Environmental Health”.

In a speech read on
her behalf, Mrs Cecilia Abena Dappah, the Minister of Sanitation and Water
Resources, said the theme was timely because over the years discussions on
climate change were focused on human health, neglecting animals which help
promote the sustainability of the ecosystem.

She said Ghana has
formulated several policies aimed at promoting ‘One Health’ concerns, including
the National Anti-microbial policy, 2018.

The Minister said
the Ministry has initiated projects and programmes aimed at achieving the
objectives of ‘one health’.

“Currently, the
Ministry is supporting selected institutions with litter bins to reduce the
amount of filth which may end up polluting the environment”, she added.

She said the
Ministry was also collaborating with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural
Development to strengthen the enforcement of sanitary laws to punish
recalcitrant individuals whose activities destroy the ecosystem.

Dr Sunday A.Ojewale,
the Secretary General, said WAPCEH had over the years pursued excellence with
emphasis on diligence, discipline and determination.

These values have
contributed to the successful accreditation of three Faculties of College in
three Nigerian Universities-Health Promotion and Environmental Education,
Public Health Entomology and Pest Control and Environmental Epidemiology.

The conference will
discuss topics including Environmental Health and Maternal Child Health
Mortality, Environmental Epidemiology and Climate Change and Community
Sanitation Technology in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The event witnessed
the induction of 21 new Fellows from West Africa to the Fellowship out of which
seven were Ghanaians.

GNA

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