GHS warns of rising air pollution-related respiratory diseases

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) is urging authorities to strictly enforce national air quality standards, warning that worsening pollution is driving a surge in respiratory illnesses across the country.

Health facilities are recording sharp increases in asthma cases, acute respiratory infections, especially among children, including chronic coughs, and serious breathing problems.

Officials say these conditions are increasingly linked to long-term exposure to polluted air, with pregnant women and young children being the most at risk.

Speaking at the Breathe Accra National Stakeholder Convening, Dr. Akosua Gyasi of the GHS Public Health Division said air pollution is fueling not only respiratory illnesses but also a growing number of non-communicable diseases.

“We are seeing consistently high cases of asthma, acute respiratory infections in children, chronic coughs, and breathing difficulties,” she said.

“Air pollution is also contributing to cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, and other heart-related conditions.

These are now becoming common not just in cities, but among communities nationwide.”

Dr. Gyasi called for a rapid scale-up of air quality monitoring across the country, as well as faster action to transition to cleaner energy and low-emission transportation systems.