The Municipal Environmental Health Officer for the Ayawaso North Municipal Assembly in the Greater Accra Region, Richard Donkor, has underscored the critical importance of post-flood disinfection and disinfestation exercises to safeguard public health and mitigate potential outbreaks of diseases following recent flooding events. He explained that floodwaters frequently traverse highly contaminated areas, including public toilets, septic tanks, drains, dumping sites, and other waste facilities, before spreading into communities and public spaces to pose significant health risks. Mr. Donkor stated this during a press conference on the sidelines of an extensive disinfection and disinfestation exercise undertaken by Zoomlion Ghana Limited in Accra New Town, in partnership with the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) within the Greater Accra region. This initiative, a broader disinfection and disinfestation program launched following the recent flooding, aims to reduce the presence and spread of disease-causing organisms, flies, mosquitoes, and other public health threats.
He contended that flood runoff should not be considered ordinary wastewater because it can contain a high concentration of pollutants and pathogenic organisms capable of posing serious risks to public health. At the Five-Five Public Toilet at Accra Newtown, he emphasized that this exercise was particularly important at a time when harmful microorganisms may have been carried along by floodwaters. ‘This is to make sure that we take care of all pathogenic organisms that came along with the flooding that we had a couple of weeks ago,’ he said, expressing appreciation to the Presidency and Zoomlion Ghana Limited for their support in this critical intervention.
Furthermore, Mr. Donkor acknowledged that the operation could have been undertaken earlier, but noted that its implementation at this stage remained vital in protecting communities from the potential health consequences of the floods. ‘I must admit that even though it is late, better late than never,’ he said, while expressing appreciation to the Presidency and Zoomlion Ghana Limited for their support in this significant effort. He also commended media organizations for their consistent efforts in promoting sanitation, public health, and environmental safety, highlighting that maintaining acceptable public health standards required collective responsibility. The Zoomlion teams deployed covered a number of public and institutional facilities within parts of the Greater Accra Region, including the Five Five Public Toilet at Accra Newtown, facilities serving the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Ghana Ambulance Service, and Ghana Education Service (GES) at Mamobi, as well as selected dumping sites and other sanitation facilities. Other areas that benefited included the La Bawleshie dumpsite, the Gbegbeyisie cluster of schools at Dansoman, Glefe unauthorized dumpsite, and parts of Sowutuom in the Ga Central Municipality. Mr. Donkor entreated residents and managers of public facilities to complement such interventions by maintaining proper sanitation practices and ensuring that waste and other materials that could create breeding grounds for disease vectors are properly managed.
The exercise underscored the importance of addressing sanitation issues and waste management practices to safeguard public health and prevent potential outbreaks of diseases. Zoomlion Ghana Limited plans to continue deploying teams to different areas throughout the Greater Accra Region, focusing on areas with high population density and potential for disease transmission. The long-term goal is to enhance the overall sanitation and hygiene standards within the region, contributing significantly to public health and safety. This initiative underscores the collective responsibility of stakeholders in protecting the well-being of the community.”
This exercise represents a proactive measure to mitigate the potential risks associated with floodwaters and to ensure the health and safety of residents and visitors in the Accra metropolitan area. The success of this operation will contribute to a more resilient and healthy community, particularly during periods of inclement weather.
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Source: Adom Online
