Adoa News Adoa News
Related Articles
Story by : Ofori Nathaniel
The Head of the Department of Biological, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences at the University of Ghana, Professor Justice Nonvignon Calys-Tagoe, has cautioned that the growing practice of traders storing urine in plastic bottles at marketplaces poses a serious public health risk.
According to the professor, many traders, particularly those operating in congested markets with limited sanitation facilities, resort to urinating into bottles or containers, which are later disposed of improperly. He warned that this unsanitary habit could lead to the spread of infectious diseases, including cholera and other bacterial infections, especially when these containers are left exposed or mixed with waste materials.
Prof. Calys-Tagoe emphasized that such poor sanitation practices threaten not only traders but also consumers who visit the markets daily. He urged local assemblies to intensify public health education and improve sanitation infrastructure in markets to curb the trend.
He also called for strict enforcement of sanitation bylaws and regular inspection of market environments to ensure compliance. “Good hygiene is a collective responsibility. When one person neglects it, everyone else becomes vulnerable,” he stressed.
Public health experts have repeatedly warned that unhygienic practices in Ghana’s markets contribute significantly to outbreaks of preventable diseases. The call by Prof. Calys-Tagoe reinforces growing concern over the need for sustainable waste management solutions within urban trading centres.
