Dr. Mabel Abudu, the Ashanti Regional Veterinary Officer, has raised alarms about the escalating issue of plastic pollution in the region, urging a collective change in behaviour to combat this pressing problem.
She noted that the responsibility lies with all Ghanaians to recognise that littering the environment is causing significant harm to both animals and humans.
“The problem is not just for livestock owners; it affects all of us. We must change our behaviour,” she stated.
In an interview featured in a documentary produced by Orange FM titled “Plastic Peril Part Two,” which highlights the effects of plastic waste on animals and crops, Dr. Abudu expressed deep concern over the impact on wildlife.
She explained that herbivorous animals often forage for food and can mistakenly ingest plastic debris, leading to serious health issues.
She called for an end to the indiscriminate disposal of plastics to mitigate this challenge.
Dr. Abudu shared her professional experiences, noting direct evidence linking plastic ingestion to animal fatalities.
“When you perform the PM (Post-mortem), you realise that there are a lot of polythene bags that are choked in the stomach, and so I can testify to that, and so do my colleagues in the other districts and regions,” she reported.
She further pointed out that while plastic pollution may not claim the lives of many animals at once, it gradually contributes to their decline.
Dr. Mabel Abudu urged the public to stop littering to significantly reduce the detrimental effects of plastic waste on animals, humans, and the environment.
