By Albert Futukpor, GNA
Tamale, Aug 25, GNA – The Zoomlion Ghana Limited in collaboration with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the Northern Region has commenced a disinfection exercise across the region as part of efforts to help prevent disease outbreaks and protect public health.
The exercise, which formed part of a nationwide initiative, targeted public toilets, markets, schools, health facilities, open spaces and storm drains amongst others.
In the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly where the exercise commenced on Monday, the company disinfected a public toilet at Changli as well as the storm drain at Koblimahugu.
Other facilities earmarked for the exercise in the Tamale Metropolis included the Central Market, the public toilet at Savelugu Bus Terminal, the Tamale Metro Assembly office building, Dabokpa Technical Institute, Saint Mary’s Vocational School, public toilets at the Northern Regional Hospital, and the Tamale West Hospital, Newlife Hospital, Kabsad Scientific Hospital and the Regional Library.
Dr Peter Dawuni, Regional Manager, Zoomlion Ghana Limited, speaking during the exercise, said it formed part of the company’s corporate social responsibility to support efforts to maintain a clean and healthy environment.
Dr Dawuni said the exercise was also aimed at controlling mosquitoes, pests and other disease causing organisms that could pose health risks to residents.
He said the locations and facilities being disinfected were identified in collaboration with the various MMDAs based on public health and sanitation concerns.
He urged residents to avoid staying at locations immediately after they had been disinfected and said they could return about 30 minutes to one hour after the exercise.
He said this was necessary to allow the chemicals used during the exercise to take effect and reduce possible exposure to residents.
Madam Vivian Bazigha, an Environmental Health Officer at the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly, said the Assembly was supervising the exercise in the Metropolis.
Madam Bazigha said the storm drain at Koblimahugu had recently become a public health concern after a dead body, believed to have been in the water for about five days, was found.
She said the disinfection of the storm drain was necessary to eliminate microorganisms that could have been released from the decomposing body into the water, which flowed towards other communities.
Mr Mohammed Wumpini, a resident of the Koblimahugu community, expressed gratitude to Zoomlion and the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly for the exercise.
He appealed to the Assembly to de-silt storm drains to ensure free flow of water.
GNA
Edited by Eric K Amoh/Benjamin Mensah
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