Garbage takes over Takoradi

Residents of Apowa near Takoradi in the Western Region are fuming with rage over heaps of uncollected garbage in the farming community despite the numerous national sanitation exercises that have taken place in the area.

The residents say they are fed up with the foul smell that emanates from the heaps of garbage.

To this end, the Vector Control Unit of Western Waste Limited, a private waste management company, is undertaking fumigation exercise on dumping sites, drains and public places of convenience in the area.

The exercise is, among other things, to help control the spread of communicable diseases, particularly cholera in the farming community.

Vector Control Officer of the company, Isaac Osei, told DAILY GUIDE that the exercise had become very necessary due to the fear of an outbreak of cholera as a result of the filth.

He regretted that most of the communities had heaps of refuse that produced unpleasant stench and posed health hazards to both adults and children.

“We are also here to educate people to keep their children away from the refuse sites and disinfect the area,” he noted.

The vector control officer stressed that the company’s team would spray all toilet facilities and drains to help stop the breeding of mosquitoes and other vectors.

“The disinfestation exercise will ensure that vectors such as houseflies, mosquitoes and cockroaches are prevented from spreading diseases to households,” he added.

He stated that “insects do not only inconvenience human beings but also pose a health hazard to people as they contaminate food, hence the aggressive fumigation exercise.”

Mr Osei entreated individuals and organisations to dump refuse in designated areas rather than in gutters and drains.

The vector control officer underscored the need for individuals, especially market women, to avoid leaving their food uncovered in order not to be contaminated by rodents.

He indicated that the exercise would soon be replicated in other areas in the Western Region.