Health Effects Of Mercury; On Ghana’s Small Scale Miners

Dr. Mohammed Mbenway, medical superintendent in charge of the Prestea Government Hospital, is one of the few medical officers who have seen the devastating effect of the small-scale mining on the health of the people.
He added that mercury also has a harmful effect on the entire community as it gets into the ecosystem.
Small-scale miners handle mercury with their bare hands and they inhale the fumes from the burnt mercury and dust from the crushing machines continuously into their bodies making them prone to mercury poisoning.
He said most of the miners come complaining of coloured skin itching, insomnia and hypertension, all symptoms of mercury poisoning.
Dr. Mbenway, however, said the hospital which serves over 40 communities in addition to Prestea, does not have the equipment to undertake mercury tests or treat mercury poisoning.
“Only emergencies bring them to the hospital when it is near-death. Then they are carried to the hospital,” Dr. Mbenway said.
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