Heads of Senior High Schools and some students in the Northern Region have commended government for the fumigation exercise in schools for the eradication of bedbugs that invade schools’ dormitories and classrooms, thereby disturbing students and academics.
“We spend a lot to fumigate the dormitories during long vacations periods to ensure the welfare of our children, but financial constraints make it difficult for us to do that regularly since we have to focus on their feeding and other amenities,” the heads said.
The heads made the comment after the fumigation exercise took place in their various senior high schools, technical, vocational and special schools across the region.
The Ghana Education Service, in partnership with Zoomlion, has embarked on fumigation exercises across all 86 Senior High Schools in the Northern, North East and Savannah Regions.
The Head of Ghana Senior High School (GHANASCO), Hajia Amina Musah, in an interview with the B&FT said the schools have been battling with the issue of bedbugs for so many years now; but she is however optimistic that with the assembly’s initiative, the problem of bedbugs will be a thing of the past.
She commended government for the exercise, saying it will go a long way to help ensure the health and safety of students and teachers when school resumes. She therefore appealed for help to sustain the exercise regularly in schools, and thus help nurture quality youth for a better future.
Assistant Headmaster for Tamale Senior High School (TAMASCO), Abdulai Baba, said measures have been put in place to ensure students do not litter the dormitories and classrooms to attract the insects, and efforts will be made to continue with the exercise.
According to the Regional Public Relations officer at GES, Donald Akanzoni, the exercise will help curb the insects’ spread in the various campuses and homes.
A student, Ayenbeng Owusua Stella, said the bedbug issue makes it difficult for them to focus in class because during the night they are not able to sleep; and also water issues make it difficult for them to clean the dorms. “I am very happy that the dormitories have been fumigated, because it will help us have enough sleep,” she said.
The Northern Regional Communication Affairs at Zoomlion Ghana, Emma Akyea-Boakye explained that the company, together with the GES, decided to support government’s efforts in fighting spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, and also ridding all second cycle institutions in Ghana of parasites and bedbugs.
