Zoomlion Ghana, contracted by the Ghana Education Service to fumigate all Senior High Schools in the country, has commenced the exercise in Ashanti Region.
The fumigation exercise started last week and is expected to benefit about 190 schools in the Ashanti Region, aimed at eliminating bedbugs and other insects in all second circle schools of the country.
Headmistress of St. Mary’s Girls SHS, Konongo, in the Asante-Akim Central Municipality, Alice Martha Adjei, commended government and Zoomlion Ghana for such a timely intervention – indicating that the overwhelming presence of bedbugs in her school is a challenge that Administration has tried all their best to solve but to no avail.
“Apart from the bedbugs, our campus here has been a breeding ground for snakes and lizards among other pests; we have sprayed it several times but the chemicals are not able to kill them. So, we were very happy when we heard that Zoomlion has procured special chemicals that can kill all these pests and we are grateful to GES,” she said.
Member of Parliament (MP), Asante-Bekwei Constituency, Joseph Osei Wusu – speaking to the media during a fumigation exercise at SDA Senior High School in his constituency, stated that the fumigation exercise is a very important intervention by government as it will bring relief to the budget of various assemblies as they usually make allocation for fumigation every academic term.
“This is a good initiative by government and the GES, and I will ensure that this exercise is done regularly until bedbugs are no longer a topic of discussion in our schools. I will also urge members of my municipality to adhere strictly to the protocols put in place. I have purchased about 10,000 face masks for distribution to people here to protect them and prevent spread of the virus,” he said.
Speaking on the continuous lockdown of schools, Headmistress of Juaso Senior High Technical School, Asante-Akim South, Margaret Nana Halm Markin, stated that her school, like all other second circle schools, lacks boarding and other facilities so it is highly impossible to observe social distancing, and so supports government’s decision to lockdown schools until the pandemic is dealt with completely.
She further indicated that the school has purchased some Veronica buckets and hand-sanitisers to help observe the protocols when school resumes, but also urges the municipality and corporate entities to also donate to schools to ensure that they are well-prepared before they resume.
Some of the schools that has been fumigated so far include Juaben SHS, Oppong Memorial SHS, Kumasi Academy, Effiduasi Secondary Commercial School, Ofoase Kokoben SHS, St. Joseph SHS, Adu Gyamfi SHS, Islamic SHS, Osei Adutwum SHS, Serwaa Nyarko SHS, Nurul Ameen SHS, Wesley High School, Gyamaa Pensan SHS, Asare Bediako SHS, and Kumasi Girls SHS among others.
