Abortion, hiv aids cases increase At chinese mining sites
From Simmons Yussif Kewura, Manso Nkwanta
FOLLOWING THE influx of illegal Chinese miners into the country, abortion cases in these mining areas are said to be on the increase, with its attendant deaths.
Disclosing this at a sensitization workshop at Manso Nkwanta in the Amansie West District of Ashanti, the District Health Director for the area, Dr. Dominic Dobbin, revealed that from January to June, this year, various health facilities in the area have recorded about three hundred teenage pregnancies.
The sensitization workshop was organized by the Minerals Commission and other affiliated bodies under the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry to educate assembly members, unit committee members, chiefs and other stakeholders on the need to combat the galamsey menace in the country.
Dr. Dobbin said the high number of teenage pregnancy has also led to high abortion cases while HIV/AIDS in the area is on the high side. He said: “All these are happening because of the influx of the galamsey operators who mine in the area. Because they have the money, they go about chasing the “small small girls”.
The District Health Director disclosed that quite apart from the abortion issues, the operations of the galamseyers were also creating other health hazards for the people of the area; such as malaria, tuberculosis and silicosis, as some of the diseases emanating from the illegal miners operations.
Dr. Dobbin noted that the stagnant waters left all over the place by the illegal miners lead to the breeding of mosquitoes which subsequently end up increasing malaria cases in the district.
On tuberculosis and silicosis, the District Health Director attributed it to refined dusts that are left behind after the galamsey activities, and explained that when the dust enters into the lungs through the nostril, it results into tuberculosis and silicosis.
The Chief Inspector of Mines at the Mineral Commission’s Inspectorate Division, Mr. Stephen Piedu, briefing participants about the purpose of the workshop stated that the fight against illegal Mining can be won with some commitment.
According to him, it is a joke for some people to claim illegal mining cannot be stopped.
Mr. Piedu, therefore, urged the police, the immigration, the minerals commission and other stakeholders to stop the blame game. He said the problem is persisting because some of the stakeholders continue to point accusing fingers at each other, and do not do their job to fight the canker.
The Inspector of Mines said the fight to combat galamsey needs the cooperation of all stakeholders in order to eradicate it.
He revealed that the District Assemblies, under whose jurisdiction most of these illegal mining activities take place need to know their role, hence the sensitization workshop to let them know that when it comes to the fight against illegal mining, they have the powers to ensure that galamsey operations are halted.
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