When the Wind Brings Dust — and Disease

About this episode

The episode discusses the health impacts of the harmattan season in northern Ghana, particularly its link to cerebrospinal meningitis outbreaks.

Every year, the harmattan sweeps across northern Ghana, coating communities in fine dust from the Sahara. But beyond the haze lies a more dangerous reality. Health experts say the same dry, dusty air is closely linked to recurring outbreaks of cerebrospinal meningitis, a disease that returns almost every dry season and continues to claim lives. Michael Asharley speaks with journalist Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith, whose investigation traces the connection between environmental conditions and diseas...

People in this episode

Host: Michael Asharley

Guest: Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith

Topics covered

• harmattan
• health
• environment
• disease outbreaks
• cerebrospinal meningitis
• air quality

Keywords

• harmattan
• dust
• health experts
• Ghana
• cerebrospinal meningitis
• environmental conditions
• disease

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Ghana, Sahara

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