Impact of water resources development on health: Ghana

1. Impact of water resources development on health: Ghana Francis Anto (PhD) Navrongo Health Research Centre - GHS

2. Navrongo Health Research Centre- Ghana Health Service

3. Map of Ghana showing some water development projects Tono dam Proposed Bui dam Volta Lake

4. Kassena-Nankana district showing the Tono dam

5. Health Impact of water resources development Programmes of water resources development and the resultant population movements are known to have worsened the transmission of schistosomiasis in countries like Ghana, Nigeria, Sudan, Brazil and the Philippines (Iarotski and Davis, 1981). This has led to an increase in both prevalence and intensity of infection.

6. Water resources development has become increasingly important in African countries including Ghana Although improved hydraulic infrastructure holds potential for: alleviating poverty promoting economic growth improving food security and mitigating floods, adverse health effects may undermine these objectives (Hunter et al. 1993; Jobin 1999; Keiser et al. 2005), if the appropriate measures are not put in place Health Impact of water resources development cont.

7. Impact of the Tono irrigation system on health The largest irrigation system in Ghana (Tono irrigation system-ICOUR) is located in the Kassena-Nankana district of the upper east region The region has about 144 small dams and 70 dug-outs These water development schemes have worsened the schistosomiasis burden of the region (Scott, 1977; Amankwa, et al., 1994; Hunter, 2003) Leading to a prevalence level of about 70% among school-age children living along the Tono irrigation canals (Amankwa, et al., 1994)

8. Overall infection was 48%, more males (52%) than females (41%) infected p=0.002 Overall infection in in-school children similar to those not in-school

9. 71% swim in canals, 60% wash items in canals, More swimmers (p=0.004) than non-swimmers were infected. More workers on tomato farms (p=0.003) than non workers were infected

10. Table 1. Malaria transmission intensity in the Kassena-Nankana district (Appawu et al, 2004)

11. Table 2. Malariometric characteristics of children (<5 yrs) surveyed in KND (2001-2002)

12. Prevalence of infection was seasonal in rural non-irrigated area (dry=37.7%; wet 72.2%, p<0.001). The prevalence of infection in the rural irrigated (dry=41.3%; wet 55.4%, p>0.05) and central more urbanized (dry=22.6%; wet 34.3%, p>0.05) areas was not seasonal

13. Bed net was found to protect those who used them from malaria infection (p=0.003)

14. All cause mortality was highest in the rural non-irrigated area where malaria infection was also highest

15. Impact of Akosombo dam on health When Ghana gained independence in 1957 from British colonial rule, it was envisioned that the Akosombo dam project was the most economical source of energy needed for the industrialization and modernization of the country This led to an increase in prevalence of schistosomiasis from about 3% in 1961 to about 84% by 1967 in schoolchildren [upstream: Kete Krachi, and Yeji] (Paperna, 1969) And also from about 17% in 1963 to 74.6% in 1981 [downstream: Bator](Wen and Chu 1984)

16. Bui dam site

17. Bui dam Having had problems with the supply of adequate electricity from Akosombo dam, for over a year now, the government of Ghana is embarking on building of another hydroelectric dam, the Bui dam. In addition to generating electricity, there will be an irrigation system and A modern city, the Bui city

18. Ecological changes with dam construction

19. Some beneficial effects • Reduction in incidence of onchocerciasis • With the irrigation scheme, there will be improvement in food production in the long term

20. Current situation at the Bui site I The health and nutritional status of the communities in the Bui project area have been described as poor That malnutrition is pervasive with a high prevalence of infectious diseases including schistosomiasis. There is lack of potable water and inadequate health services and facilities Poor environmental sanitation and housing (Environmental impact assessment report)

21. Current situation at the Bui site II Similar to the Volta basin, schistosomiasis is prevalent in the Bui project area (ERM report, 2007) There is therefore a very high likelihood that the prevalence and intensity of the disease will rise as a result of the development of the water project

22. Potential health problems (Bui) According to the EIA report: The creation of the dam will impact significantly on disease incidences in the local region Specifically: Bilharzia Trypanosomiasis Guinea worm Intestinal worms and onchocerciasis. Health impacts may also arise in the long term owing to: the loss of medicinal plants reduced food security arising from lower farm productivity and in-migration of people carrying communicable diseases

23. Conclusion There is no doubt that water resources development increases the incidence of several tropical diseases • Dams in Cameroon (Atangana et al. 1979) • Kenya (Oomen 1981; Roggeri 1985) • Mali (King 1996) • Ethiopia (Lautze et al, 2007) have resulted in an increased malaria burden • Ghana (Wen &Chu, 1984) schistosomiasis • Ghana (Ampofo and Zuta,1995) Barekese dam

24. Recommendations Communities closest to the reservoir appear to be the worst affected Large water impoundments in malaria endemic parts of sub-Saharan Africa are likely to increase the force of malaria transmission Appropriate measures need to be put in place to mitigate the impact through informed prevention strategies This requires an integrated approach to water resources development that substantially incorporates health parameters into development plans and encourages on-going collaboration between the water and health sectors

25. Recommendations • Malaria • Promotion of ITNs • Indoor residual spraying • Schistosomiasis • Annual chemotherapy (praziquantel) • Mollusciciding (baylucide) • Lymphatic filariasis • Annual ivermectin plus albendazole • Guinea worm • Potable water • Control of cyclps (Abate) • Buruli uncer • Effective community surveillance

26. Potential areas of research collaboration • Malaria • Schistosomiasis • Guinea worm • Onchocerciasis • Lymphatic filariasis • Buruli ulcer • Socio-economic studies

27. Thank you all