Blinded by the smoke: The price Ghana's fish smokers are paying

Naomi Dowuo, a 70-year-old woman in Accra, Ghana, suffers from blindness in her right eye due to prolonged exposure to smoke while smoking fish. Over the years, she spent up to six hours a day exposed to smoke, heat, and chemicals used in fish processing. Despite her condition, she remains grateful for her remaining eye. Eye complications among women involved in fish smoking are common, with many experiencing dry eye disease, cataracts, and in severe cases, glaucoma.

These health issues arise from the combination of air pollutants, heat, and chemicals in fish smoke. Dr Samuel Sessah, an optometrist and occupational health expert, explains that these exposures lead to reduced blood flow to the optic nerve, causing severe eye conditions. At Ussher Hospital, the ophthalmic nurse has observed numerous cases similar to Naomi's, such as pterygium and cataracts, which result from prolonged smoke exposure.

In response, the government has developed cleaner technologies like the Ahotor and FTT ovens, but their high cost hinders adoption among women fish smokers, who cannot afford them. The Fisheries Commission is piloting cheaper modified versions of these ovens, but there is a lack of dedicated funding for women to construct new ovens.

The Environmental Protection Agency runs workshops to teach women how to reduce their exposure to smoke, such as stepping away from the smoke and keeping children away. UV-protective sunglasses are also provided to protect their eyes. However, the effectiveness of these measures remains uncertain, as it is unclear if women are implementing the recommended changes in their daily work at the kilns.