Dr Yiryele was speaking at a meeting held in Accra to disseminate findings of a research on "Examining the Socioeconomic and Health Vulnerabilities of Female Bushmeat Traders in Ghana during and after the Covid-19 pandemic,"

"It is prudent for bushmeat traders to protect themselves from diseases contracted from animals by wearing gloves and personal protective equipment, when transporting bush meats from the bush and preparing them for sale," he said.

Zoonotic diseases are infectious diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans, and vice versa.

Dr Yiryele said about 60 per cent of infectious diseases that affected men were of animal origin and 75 are re-emerging disease and of wild animal origin.
Commenting on the research, Dr. Kofi Amponsah- Mensah, Director of Research, Centre for Biodiversity Conservation Research, University of Ghana, said bushmeat, the meat of wild animals is a crucial component of the Ghanaian food system.

He said the meat served as a primary source of protein and income for many communities especially women who engage in trading bushmeat yet associated with unsustainable hunting practices, habitat destruction and a risk of zoonotic diseases.

Dr Amponsah-Mensah said the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the supply chain and marketing of bush meat, which had further marginalized female bushmeat traders who often lacked access to formal social protection programs.

The two-year research project on "Examining the Socioeconomic and Health Vulnerabilities of Female Bushmeat Traders in Ghana during and after the Covid-19 pandemic," sought to assess the socio-economic vulnerabilities of female bushmeat traders in Ghana

It was funded under the Women RISE initiative, a collaborative effort between the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Council and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

The research engaged female bushmeat traders in various stages like, wholesale, retail and chop bar operators in Accra, Kumasi and Buipe.

The report showed that bush meat trade has experienced a general decline, beginning with the Ebola outbreak in 2014 and intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It also showed that many hunters have abandoned their traditional occupation and turned to illegal mining or the construction industry.

The report indicated that 87 per cent of women reported a decline in income leading to 91 per cent decreased profit margins and 79 per cent decrease in savings and investments. A situation which affected their mental and physical health.

The research report recommended that soft loan schemes and insurance be provided to mitigate the impact of future shocks and sustain livelihoods.
It suggested that female bushmeat traders be registered with the Social Security and National Insurance Trust to address future pension needs.
It further recommended that women and their dependents be encouraged to register with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS)