Nigeria Ranks 2nd In Acute Pesticide Poisoning In West Africa — Study

A new study has shown that about 69 per cent of farmers and farm workers in Nigeria are exposed to and affected by Unintentional Acute Pesticide Poisoning (UAPP) every year.

According to the study, acute pesticide poisoning refers to illnesses or health effects experienced shortly after exposure to pesticides.

The study, published in the journal – Frontiers in Public Health, which was commissioned by the Pesticide Action Network, PAN, found that Burkina Faso had the highest national incidence in the region at 83.8 per cent, followed by Nigeria at 69.0 per cent.

PAN is a UK-based network of over 600 participating nongovernmental organizations, institutions and individuals in over 90 countries including Nigeria.

According to the report, The Gambia recorded 51.5 per cent, Ghana 39.0 per cent, Senegal 30.5 per cent, while Côte d’Ivoire recorded 20.0 per cent.

Overall, the study estimated that an average of 48.9 per cent of farmers and farm workers in the six West African countries experienced unintentional acute pesticide poisoning annually.

Meanwhile, according to the study, globally, it is estimated that between 402 million and 433 million farmers and farm workers suffer cases of unintentional acute pesticide poisoning globally every year.

Based on an estimated global farming population of 934 million, the figure means that about 46 percent of farmers worldwide are affected annually.

The study also estimated that pesticide poisoning causes about 11,000 deaths every year, with India accounting for nearly 60 percent of the fatalities.

The authors called for immediate action to reduce pesticide-related harm, including implementation of a United Nations recommendation to phase out highly hazardous pesticides immediately (HHPs).

Head of International Programmes, Pesticide Action Network UK, Dr. Sheila Willis, said farmers needed greater support to access safer alternatives.

She stated: “Now that the scale of suffering has been revealed, farmers must be supported to access safer alternatives to protect their health and that of their families.”

The post Nigeria Ranks 2nd In Acute Pesticide Poisoning In West Africa — Study appeared first on Information Nigeria.