Science, Technology and Healthcare Delivery in Ghana: A Historical Perspective = Tudomány, technológia és egészségügyi ellátás Ghánában: Történelmi perspektíva

In the last three decades, a number of studies have been undertaken concerning the impact of science and technological innovations on health sector reforms and responsive healthcare delivery in most countries globally. However, few of these studies are placed in historical context and/or focused particularly on the case of Ghana. In addition, such studies are mostly carried out in the biomedical and physical sciences with very few in the social sciences. Against this background, this paper draws experiences from health professionals in purposively selected institutions in Ghana and supported with critical review of related literature, to answer two central research questions. First, how has science and technological advancement effectively and efficiently supported healthcare delivery system in Ghana? Second, how have post-independence health sector reforms in Ghana been responsive to the needs of patients due to advances in science and technology? Based on empirical results, we argue in this paper that over the last few decades, advances in science and technology have significantly improved Ghana’s health delivery system and promoted responsive healthcare particularly in the area of orthodox medical services. However, the gains from advances in science and technology need to be strengthened by the Ministry of Health, Ghana Health Services and relevant stakeholders to improve health facilities and conditions especially in rural districts in the country

Capture Zone Analysis of a Wellfield to Assess Contaminant Transport

Radium is a common contaminant to the deep Cambrian- Ordovician aquifer in northern Illinois. Deep groundwater aquifers are used as fresh water resource in many parts of the world. Due to overuse, increase in salinity, natural and human-driven contamination, sustainability of these aquifer systems is uncertain. The purpose of this study is to better understand the groundwater flow system in deep bedrock aquifers in northern Illinois, and its control on the radium contamination in Rochelle’s Public Water Supply Wells (PWSW). We have tested two hypotheses: (1) the Radium (Ra) transport is driven by large pumping centers that interrupt groundwater flow (groundwater divide) and direct elevated level of Ra from areas that have already recorded Ra to PWSW and (2) Increased pumping results in leakage of water from the Franconia Formation which is fraught with glauconite into the PSWS that is opened to the Ironton-Galesville aquifer. The hypotheses are tested using a 3D steady-state numerical groundwater model using MODFLOW. The numerical model was calibrated using in-situ groundwater level measurement data, and pseudo wells created from head data from Illinois Groundwater Flow Model (IGWFM), with Mean Error (ME), Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), and coefficient of determination (R2) values of 0.07 m, 1.74 m, and 0.991, respectively. Using the calibrated model, scenario models, stochastic and capture zone analysis were conducted. The results indicated that the large pumping centers have less control on the shift in regional groundwater divide, hence preventing flow of radium rich waters to Rochelle’s PWSW. On the other hand, capture zone results and mass balance shows leakage from the Franconia Formation into the Ironton-Galesville aquifer which might indicate the source of radium being upgradient into the PWSW. Generally, it is recommended to tap water from shallower bedrock aquifers located above the Franconia Formation in Rochelle

Karst Susceptibility to Anthropogenic Influences in the Driftless Area of Northwest Illinois

In karst, the water chemistry of spring waters reveals the interactions between surface water and groundwater. Concerns about anthropogenic influences on the waters in northwest Illinois prompted an investigation examining the water chemistry of local springs and streams. For a year, six streams and six springs were sampled monthly for concentrations of major ions, pH, temperature, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, turbidity, and total coliform. Qualitative and quantitative analyses, including principal component analysis (PCA), were conducted to assess the influences of surface conditions on the karst waters. When plotted on a Piper Diagram, both waters displayed similar hydrochemical facies: Ca-Mg HCO3. PCA confirmed the importance of water-rock interaction on the water chemistry, but highlighted differences among the parameters controlling the anthropogenic chemical signatures of the waters. These anthropogenic impacts observed in both waters include NO3-N and total coliform. NO3-N concentrations ranged from 2.9 to 14.6 mg/L for the streams and from 0.3 to 30.1 mg/L for the springs; reported background concentrations are 2.5 mg/L. Total coliform was detected in both waters, with more frequent and higher counts in the stream water. The pH (6.5±0.15:mean±standard deviation) and the calcite saturation index values (-0.60±0.21) of the spring waters imply short residence times within the karst system, limiting any remedial mechanism in the subsurface. Overall, the chemical fingerprints of the stream and spring waters display differences; however, both streams and springs are susceptible to anthropogenic practices

Differentiation of Surface Water and Groundwater in a Karst System Using Anthropogenic Signatures

Surface water–groundwater interaction within a karstic system enhances contaminant transport, making karst aquifers susceptible to anthropogenic practices. Contaminated waters related to agricultural and animal husbandry in northwestern Illinois (USA) prompted this investigation. Six streams and five springs were sampled for 16 parameters to assess anthropogenic influences. Statistical analyses revealed differences in 13 of 16 parameters between the stream and spring waters. Rock–water interaction was identified as the dominant mechanism defining the chemistry for both waters, which were classified as Ca-Mg HCO3. Elevated nitrate as nitrogen (NO3-N), chloride (Cl−), sodium, and potassium concentrations indicate that human activities have influenced the quality of both water types. All streams and springs had NO3-N concentration exceeding background levels, with concentrations ranging from 2.9 to 14.5 mg/L and 2.9 to 30.1 mg/L, respectively. NO3-N/Cl relationships at individual locations showed elevated concentrations of NO3-N due to fertilizers, while the spring waters were influenced by manure, septic effluent, or mixed sources. The presence of coliform supports the likelihood of animal or human waste influences on waters. Dissimilarities within their chemical fingerprints can be traced to aid in differentiating sources within the waters