The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has appealed to government and stakeholders to introduce stronger, more targeted healthcare policies to protect fire officers from long-term occupational health risks associated with their work.
Assistant Divisional Officer of the GNFS, Alex King Nartey, said the demanding nature of firefighting exposes personnel to harmful smoke, chemicals and toxic fumes, which gradually affect their health even after years of service.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Friday, May 5, he explained that many fire officers develop respiratory and other health complications as a result of repeated exposure during emergency response operations.
He noted that in some instances, officers who have never smoked in their lives are later medically advised to avoid smoking due to damage sustained to their lungs through years of inhaling smoke on duty.
“A fire officer will just work for about five years, never smoked before, go to the hospital and be advised to stop smoking,” he said, highlighting the hidden health risks associated with the profession.
He stressed that healthcare policies should be specifically tailored to the needs of fire officers, emphasising the importance of prioritising their wellbeing to ensure longer and healthier lives after retirement.
