A University of Ghana public health lecturer warns that farmers' exposure to pesticide drift contributes to respiratory illnesses and air pollution in Ghana, noting that most farmers do not use protective gear when spraying chemicals. Health experts link chemical exposure to respiratory illnesses, cancer, and other long-term diseases, with air pollution causing an estimated 28,000 deaths yearly in Ghana.
21 August 2026 · Joy Online →
A WHO/UNICEF assessment found that only 5% of Nigerian health care facilities met the basic standard for managing medical waste in 2025, with 76% having limited services and 20% having no waste-management service. The finding raises concerns over how used needles, infectious materials and other waste generated during medical care are handled.
21 August 2026 · Joy Online →
According to a WHO and UNICEF assessment, only 16% of Ghana's health facilities meet basic sanitation standards—which require improved and usable toilets, separate facilities for men and women with menstrual hygiene provision, and access for people with limited mobility. The gaps in sanitation across West Africa are particularly stark, with Guinea-Bissau at 7%, Burkina Faso at 11%, and Mali at 12%.
21 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Ghana's malaria research network has called for sustained investment in disease surveillance and public health messaging, warning that while new prevention tools are emerging, gains against malaria remain fragile. According to WHO's World Malaria Report, the African region accounted for 94% of the world's estimated malaria cases and 95% of malaria deaths in 2024, with children under five accounting for roughly three-quarters of deaths in the region.
21 August 2026 · The Chronicle →