Breaking Ships, Breaking Bodies: Public Health at Risk at Gadani

Abstract

Objective:
To evaluate the public health consequences of unsafe working and environmental conditions at Pakistan's Gadani ship-breaking yard in Balochistan, Pakistan, and to recommend sustainable, rights-based interventions to safeguard workers and the community.

Methods:
A qualitative review was undertaken from secondary sources of data such as PubMed, Google Scholar, online news releases, and reliable blogs. The research did not entail direct human contact, and thus no ethical approval was needed. The critical analysis was centered on recording common health problems, environmental pollution, and policy loopholes in occupational safety.

Results:
The results indicated a variety of public health problems, such as nutritional deficiencies, infectious conditions, injuries, long-term toxic exposures (e.g., asbestos, mercury), and mental problems. Hazardous dismantling activities without protective equipment, inaccessibility to clean water and medical services, and inadequate emergency preparedness lead to high mortality and morbidity. The workers are exposed to exploitation because of informal  work, no health monitoring, and no compensation or protection  by law.

Conclusion:
In order to convert Gadani into a safe and sustainable industrial area, the multi-stakeholder, rights-based approach must be implemented. Suggestions are made to enforce international labor standards (ILO Convention No. 155), adopt occupational safety guidelines as of Rotterdam Port, carry out systematic environmental  assessments and health monitoring, and increase health and hygiene activities in the community. By concerted effort and focused investment, Gadani can be converted from exploitation to a model of ethical, sustainable industry.