Dangers of Aflatoxins

DANGERS OF AFLATOXINS IN FOOD AND MEASURES BEING TAKEN TO ADDRESS THEM.

The Ghana Standards Authority, GSA, has begun a programme to sensitise the public on the health hazards posed by aflatoxins. This is due to the dangers associated with these substances which are found in cereals, grains, and sorghums. Aflatoxins are poisonous cancer-causing substances that are produced by certain moulds which grow in soil, decaying vegetations, hay, and grains.  Animals fed with contaminated food can pass on aflatoxins transformation products into other products for human consumption.

The sensitisation programme in the Northern part of the country was followed with workshops in Wa and Tamale; and teaching demonstrations in Bolgatanga, Sunyani and Tamale.  The workshops targeted farmers and actors in the maize, groundnut and sorghum value chain whilst demonstration and sensitisation meetings also focused on processors and consumers of white maize.  The campaign is meant to increase public awareness and how consumers can sort and discard bad grains.

Ultimately, the goal of the campaign is to identify public health strategies regarding the reduction of deaths associated with the consumption of aflatoxins contaminated food and also outline an integrated plan that can help to effectively protect public health and use agricultural approaches to the control of aflatoxins.  To make the campaign successful and effective, there is the need to make the public aware of the identification of gaps in current knowledge about acute and chronic human health effects of aflatoxins, surveillance and food monitoring, analytic methods and also the efficacy of intervention strategies.

Again, there is the need to identify certain factors that will make the campaign successful.  These are  to quantify the human health impact and the burden of disease due to aflatoxins exposure: to compile an inventory, evaluate the efficacy and disseminate results of ongoing intervention strategies;  develop and augment the disease surveillance, food monitoring, laboratory and public health response capacity of affected areas; and , lastly, be able to develop a response protocol that can be used in the event of an outbreak of acute aflatoxins threats.

The health hazard associated with aflatoxins is real and ought to be tackled head-on.  The health hazard does not only affect Ghana but other developing countries.   For example, over five billion people in developing countries worldwide are at risk of chronic exposure to aflatoxins through contaminated foods. Associated health hazards linked to aflatoxins pervade the developing world despite the fact that these effects could be mitigated or prevented with the current state of agricultural knowledge and public health practice.

As an example, Mexico is one country that has been able to eliminate aflatoxins and is willing to assist Ghana to do same.  Any effective public education campaign to address health hazards related to aflatoxins must include the collective efforts of diverse professionals who can help ensure its success.

This means that scientists with various backgrounds such as animal health and agriculture as well as social scientists together with key public health officials and other stakeholders from aflatoxins infected areas must be roped in to support the campaign.  Like Mexico, Ghana can also win the fight against aflatoxins so the earlier we strategies against it the better it will be for the whole country in terms of good health and public safety.

Script is by Dr Kofi Amponsah -Bediako, Director of Corporate Communications, Ghana Standards Authority.