Environmentalist cautions mothers against corrosive chemicals

Mr Kwaku Ennin, an Environmental Health Specialist, has signalled the need for environmental specialists and medical practitioners to form critical partnership to educate mothers on the harmful effects of corrosive chemicals and their proper handling.

This comes on the back of the surging cases of children ingesting of such chemicals resulting in throat, abdominal injuries and fatalities.

Mr Ennin, the Chief Executive officer (CEO) of Zeal Environmental Technologies Limited was speaking when he donated $20,000 Endoscopy machine to the Paediatric Surgery Unit of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, where such children are treated.

According to available statistics at the Unit, 55 children from the ages of one to 16 years have since 2012 undergone treatment, with 16 of them operated upon.

Additionally, there is one fresh case every two weeks.

He said the time has come for experts to pull together to bring their expertise to the benefit of deprived women who in a frantic bid to better their economic circumstances engage in soap-making and other businesses with the chemicals as raw materials.

“Though the use of harmful chemicals are unavoidable, users can be sensitised on careful handling to avoid home accidents of their children who because of their naivety mistake the chemical for water and gulp it,” he added.

The Takoradi-based CEO, last year donated GHc 50,000.00 to support the surgery of a child.

Dr Michael Amoah, the Paediatric Surgeon in charge of the Unit thanked the donor for the gesture and said it is one of the felt needs which would assist in managing and caring for the patients.

He said the burning sensation of some of the chemicals when drank, are never felt in the mouth until it reaches far down the throat, “by this time it has already entered the system”.

Mrs Patience Yeboah-Ampong, the Nursing Director And Mr Anthony Mensah, Director of Pharmacy were on hand to receive the gift.