Zoomlion Intensifies Post-Flood Disinfection Exercise Across Oti Region

Zoomlion Ghana Limited has intensified a seven-day disinfection and disinfestation exercise across the Oti Region as part of efforts to prevent possible disease outbreaks and improve sanitation following recent flooding.

The exercise, which commenced simultaneously in the Krachi East and Krachi West Municipalities, is expected to cover all nine Municipal and District Assemblies (MDAs) in the region.

The campaign is being undertaken in collaboration with the various Assemblies, which have identified communities and public spaces requiring urgent sanitation intervention.

The targeted areas include markets, shops and sheds, public toilets, drains and gutters, refuse container points, waste disposal sites, flood prone communities and other public places that may become breeding grounds for disease causing organisms and harmful pathogens.

Speaking to the media during the exercise, Oti Regional Manager of Zoomlion Ghana Limited, Joseph Buabeng, said the initiative formed part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme and its efforts to support public health authorities and local communities.

He explained that the intervention was not limited to routine fumigation but also involved disinfection and disinfestation aimed at controlling disease vectors, destroying harmful pathogens and reducing the risk of waterborne and other communicable diseases associated with flooding and poor sanitation.

“Our objective is to protect residents from diseases that commonly emerge after flooding. We do not want to wait until there is an outbreak before taking action. This is a proactive measure aimed at safeguarding public health and protecting lives,” Mr. Buabeng stated.

According to him, floodwaters can carry sewage, waste and other contaminants into drains, waterways and public spaces, thereby increasing the risk of diseases such as cholera, particularly in communities already facing sanitation challenges.

He noted that waste disposal sites and areas around water bodies were receiving particular attention due to the risks posed by decomposing waste, leachate and increased fly populations.

Mr. Buabeng further disclosed that the exercise followed a directive from the Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group of Companies, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, for the company to support communities across the country in controlling disease vectors and reducing the risks associated with harmful pathogens.

Despite the immediate intervention, he stressed the importance of adopting sustainable measures to address Ghana’s long standing sanitation challenges.

He called for the construction and proper maintenance of engineered landfill sites, stricter enforcement of regulations governing waste transportation, and the establishment of strategically located waste transfer stations in rapidly growing municipalities.

Environmental Health Officer at the Krachi East Municipal Assembly, Adem Atiase, commended Zoomlion for the initiative, describing it as an important contribution to the Assembly’s environmental health efforts.

He said the exercise would help create safer, cleaner and healthier public spaces for residents.

The Oti Region exercise forms part of Zoomlion’s nationwide disinfection and disinfestation programme, which seeks to strengthen collaboration with local authorities, improve environmental sanitation, control disease vectors and prevent potential disease outbreaks while promoting healthier communities across Ghana.

By: Paulina Armah/ Radio1.