Post-flood disinfection crucial to prevent disease outbreaks – MEHO

Mr Richard Donkor, the Municipal Environmental Health Officer for the Ayawaso North Municipal Assembly in Greater Accra, has emphasized the critical importance of post-flood disinfection and disinfestation to safeguard public health and prevent disease outbreaks. According to Mr Donkor, floodwaters frequently traverse polluted zones like public toilets, septic tanks, drains, and waste facilities before infiltrating communities, posing health risks.

This was revealed during an extensive disinfection and disinfestation operation carried out by waste management firm Zoomlion Ghana Limited at Accra New Town, in collaboration with Greater Accra Region's Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs).

The exercise is part of a wider program to curb the proliferation of disease-causing organisms, flies, mosquitoes, and other public health hazards following recent floods. Mr Donkor stressed that floodwater should not be considered ordinary wastewater due to its potential high pollutants and pathogenic organism content, which could pose significant health threats.

At the Five-Five Public Toilet at Accra New Town, Mr Donkor highlighted that the intervention aimed to address the pathogens carried by the floods, stating, "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."

While the operation could have been initiated sooner, Mr Donkor acknowledged its significance at this juncture, stating, "I must admit that even though it is late, better late than never." He thanked the Presidency and Zoomlion Ghana Limited for their support and commended media organizations for their role in promoting sanitation, public health, and environmental safety. Mr Donkor highlighted that collective responsibility is essential for upholding public health standards.

The Zoomlion teams conducted the operation in various public and institutional facilities across Greater Accra, including the Five-Five Public Toilet at Accra New Town, sites serving the Ghana Health Service, Ghana Ambulance Service, and Ghana Education Service, as well as selected dumping sites and sanitation facilities. Additional areas benefited from the intervention, such as La Bawleshie dumpsite, the Gbegbeyisie schools cluster at Dansoman, the Glefe unauthorized dumpsite, and parts of Sowutuom in the Ga Central Municipality.

Mr Donkor appealed to residents and public facility managers to maintain proper sanitation practices and manage waste effectively to curb the breeding of disease vectors.