FINANCIAL, INSTITUTIONAL AND HUMAN RESOURCE CAPACITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH IN GHANA.

ABSTRACT

Introduction

An increase in industrial activities without a corresponding increase in management infrastructure has significantly resulted in growing environmental and occupational health concerns. The absence of appropriate regulatory mechanisms and the requisite expertise in environmental and occupational health have mainly been responsible for most health challenges in Ghana.

Objectives

An investigation was therefore conducted to assess the financial, institutional and human resource capacity needs of Environmental and Occupational health in Ghana.

Methods

The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional and quantitative data collection approach using a structured questionnaire. A total number of eighty four respondents were randomly selected from relevant ministries, departments, agencies, international non-governmental organizations, tertiary training institutions with accredited degree programs in environmental and occupational health and a cross-section of industrial entities with operational presence or head office in Accra, Ghana for the study.

Results

The findings of the study revealed that institutional capacity was statistically stronger, recording a mean value of 80±12.2SD and the most statistically significant institutional capacity attributes were the criteria for recruiting new employees and working space (P