The Ada West District Health Directorate engaged some key stakeholders and community members on effective risk communication in health, at their training unit on Wednesday 12th March, 2025. The engagement discussed strategies, shared best practices and enhanced collective capacity to communicate health risks effectively with the participants.
It also facilitated the identification, prevention and mitigating impact of hazards/ risks, raise public awareness on potential risks in our surroundings and possibly encourage behavioral change and promote healthy practices among the publics.
The facilitator, Ms. Asiyani Adams, the District Health Promotion Officer, engaged Participants on the identification of various hazards and risks in different environments, bringing their consciousness up to speed on this subject matter.
She, together with the participants described hazard or risk as anything with the potential to cause harm, affect people, property, environment or business negatively. She stated that hazards exist everywhere in any environment. Some of the hazards identified were physical hazards, chemical hazards, biological hazards, ergonomic hazards, psychosocial hazards and natural hazards.
Participants also identified prevention measures to some of these hazards. These measures involve maintaining hygiene and proper disposal of wastes, use ergonomic furniture and practice appropriate body posture, using personal protective equipment where applicable, and maintain high safety standards. Natural hazards can also be prevented by having emergency plans as well as investing in disaster proof infrastructures.
According the Ag. District Director of Health Services, Dr. Maxwell W. Onassis-Fiadjoe, the engagement is to improve collaboration and coordination as key stakeholders, identify potential health risks, find appropriate mitigating measures to protect individuals accordingly. Also, the meeting sought to communicate effectively to bring about behavioral changes among individuals and stakeholders.
By the end of the engagement, he was of the expectation that participants should be able to educate others on risk/hazards prevention as well as create a risk log for either their working or living environment to prevent accidents.
Both the facilitators and participants noted that risks and hazards exist in every environment. However, they can be prevented or managed to reduce its impact on lives and properties. This can be achieved by being proactive and maintaining safety protocols.
The participants were conscientized that safety is a shared responsibility and they must constantly be on the lookout for potential risks and act proactively to avoid falling victim. They also expressed their excitement and gratitude to the Organisers for this education on their safety.
The participants included representatives of civil society organizations, religious bodies, some staff of the District Assembly, Education Directorate, the Health Directorate and some community members.
Doreen Aculey (DIO)
ISD-AWDA
12th March 2025