Zoomlion leads national programme to eliminate malaria at source

As part of efforts to fight malaria, the waste management giant, Zoomlion Ghana Limited, will lead a nationwide programme, which seeks to destroy the breeding grounds of mosquitoes.

The Larval Source Management (LSM) programme is an initiative of the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service.

A release copied to Ghana News Agency on Thursday described the move as “a strategic shift from controlling malaria towards its complete elimination.”

“The programme, a core component of the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), moves beyond treating symptoms and eliminating biting adult mosquitoes to systematically destroying larvae before they can hatch and spread the disease,” it said.

The multi-level programme, officials say, would include land reclamation to “permanently alter breeding sites, routine clearing of streams, and the targeted application of environmentally sensitive biological and chemical agents.”

“We are not just controlling the mosquito population; we are working to break the chain of transmission entirely. By stopping the mosquito before it becomes a flying, biting adult, we prevent malaria, dengue, and other vector-borne diseases from ever reaching our communities.”

The programme’s implementation would leverage the expertise of the Noguchi Memorial Institute, the School of Public Health, and regional health authorities.

“A key to its success is the mobilisation of community volunteers, empowering locals to identify and help clear standing water in their immediate surroundings,” the release said.

“It is a cost-effective method that reduces the need for large-scale insecticide spraying, minimises environmental impact, and protects the efficacy of other malaria control tools…”

“Most importantly, it directly translates to improved public health through fewer infections and fatalities.”

Zoomlion urged citizens to support the programme by reporting stagnant water sites, covering water containers, and clearing clogged gutters to deny mosquitoes a breeding place.

“Eliminating mosquito breeding sites is synonymous with eliminating malaria. This is a long-term fight, and with nationwide participation, victory is within our grasp,” it added.