Professor Emmanuel Arhin, a distinguished geoscientist and Professor of Applied Geology at the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), is at the forefront of establishing a GeoHealth Centre in Ghana. This initiative is driven by his pioneering research into the critical link between geological environments and human health, particularly in addressing the escalating burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in the country.

The Vision of the GeoHealth Centre:

The proposed GeoHealth Centre aims to be a hub for interdisciplinary research, training, and policy support, focusing on the intricate relationship between geological factors and public health outcomes. Its primary objective will be to provide a scientific foundation for understanding and mitigating environmental health risks, with a specific emphasis on NCDs. This aligns with broader GeoHealth initiatives that seek to strengthen environmental and occupational health research and training collaborations in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs).

Prof. Arhin’s Groundbreaking Research:

Professor Arhin’s research centers on the field of medical geology, which investigates how geological processes and materials impact human health. He highlights that the prevalence of certain elements in the environment, whether in deficient or toxic concentrations, can significantly contribute to the development of NCDs. His work in Ghana has specifically explored:

• Trace Element Exposure and NCDs: Prof. Arhin and his collaborators have extensively researched the influence of trace elements, particularly those linked to mining activities and natural geological formations, on diseases like diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and chronic kidney disease.
• Identifying Disease Hotspots: A key aspect of his research involves using medical geological knowledge to identify “disease hotspots.” This entails conducting surveys and analyzing soil, water, and food samples to map areas where specific elemental imbalances or contaminations are prevalent, and then correlating these with NCD incidence.
• The Role of Mining: He has underscored the increasing cases of NCDs in mining areas of Ghana, suggesting that the release of heavy metals like arsenic (As), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) into the environment from these activities plays a significant role. Arsenic, for instance, has been consistently found at higher levels in some areas and is known to cause various NCDs.
• Water Quality and Health: His work also points to the enrichment of elements like arsenic and fluoride in rural drinking water aquifers in Ghana, and their established links to health issues such as fluorosis, kidney problems, heart diseases, and an elevated risk of diabetes.
• Shifting Paradigms: Prof. Arhin challenges the notion that NCDs are solely lifestyle diseases, arguing that environmental factors, often rooted in geological conditions, are “hidden players” contributing to their increasing prevalence, even among younger populations.

Addressing Ghana’s NCD Burden:

NCDs have become a significant public health challenge in Ghana, transitioning from being the seventh killer disease in 2001 to the leading cause of death by 2021. Prof. Arhin emphasizes the urgent need for a multidisciplinary approach, urging collaboration between geoscientists and medical practitioners. The establishment of the GeoHealth Centre, championed by Prof. Arhin, is therefore a crucial step towards:

• Preventive Healthcare: Moving beyond treating symptoms to proactively identifying and addressing the root causes of NCDs related to environmental exposure.
• Informing Policy: Providing evidence-based data to inform national health policies and environmental regulations, particularly concerning mining and land use.
• Capacity Building: Training a new generation of researchers and healthcare professionals with an understanding of medical geology and its application in public health.
• Creating an Environmental Disease Pattern Map: Developing a comprehensive map of Ghana that identifies potential risk areas for environmental health epidemics.

Through the establishment of the GeoHealth Centre and continued research, Prof. Emmanuel Arhin aims to bring a much-needed geological perspective to Ghana’s health landscape, paving the way for more effective and sustainable strategies to combat the rising tide of NCDs.