Bolgatanga, June 2, GNA- Zoomlion Ghana has started emptying major drains in the Bolgatanga Municipality to allow free flow of water ahead of the rains.
The exercise is being carried out with the removal of plastic waste in the drains in the livestock market at the new market, along with spraying of vectors near the Jubilee public toilet and communal containers at the O.A travel and tours terminal along the Bolgatanga -Navrongo highway.
It is part of a quarterly engagement between the Municipal and District Assemblies with Zoomlion Ghana Limited with the objective to prioritize vector control and disinfection of Communal container sites, waste disposal sites and drains to reduce pests, mosquitoes and minimize the spread of diseases.
Mr John Baptist Asivim, Manager, in charge of Vector Control at Zoomlion Ghana in Bolgatanga who spoke to the Ghana News Agency in an interview during the exercise carried out by labourers of his outfit said the exercise of desilting the drains would be carried out in all districts on the onset of rains to allow water to water to flow freely whenever there is rainfall and to reduce flooding.
“We normally do desilting when there are choked drains but we are also spraying to control pests and mosquitoes”. He added.
Mr Maxwell Ayipaala, Acting Public Jobs Manager at Zoomlion indicated that some of the identified areas with such poor sanitary conditions are regularly sprayed to reduce pests and infectious diseases.
“ The spraying minimizes flies around and reduces the resultant effects of cholera too, which is normally common during the rainy season”. Mr Ayipaala added.
In reaction to the continuous flouting of rules by people who pour refuse on the ground instead of the communal containers provided for the community, Mr Ayipaala said his outfit carried out radio discussions regularly to educate the public on behaviour change.
However, he noted that children were also assisted by attendants at the waste collection point to reach the communal container to empty their rubbish and added that though improvised staircases either made of iron or wood were provided, some recalcitrant people stole them making children leave their rubbish on the ground when the attendants close.
He lamented that poor attitude to sanitation and waste was poured into drains and communal containers and urged the public to change and to help keep the environment clean and safe for all.
GNA.