Zoomlion Ghana Limited last week begun the second phase of disinfecting tertiary institutions in the Ashanti Region.
The exercise, which commenced on Thursday, June 11, 2020, was aimed at keeping the environs of the institutions safe, and to also help contain the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
Following cases of Covid-19 in the country, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo directed tertiary institutions, religious bodies and some public organisations be closed—a measure ostensibly to help the country curb the spread of the virus.
Some of the tertiary Institutions disinfected and fumigated on the first day of the exercise were the Kumasi Technical University (KTU) and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KUNST).
Speaking to a cross-section of journalists shortly after the exercise, the Registrar of the Kumasi Technical University, Ebenezer Kofi Boakye, intimated the exercise would exude confidence in students as they prepare to come back for academic activities on June 15, 2020.
Kumasi Technical University is expecting about 3,400 final-year students to return for academic activities after COVID-19 break.
“COVID-19 has become part of us like malaria, cholera and others, so we have to live with it and respect the World Health Organization’s protocols and that of the Ministry of Health to minimize the spread,” Mr Boakye noted.
However, he said that the wearing nose masks and practicing social distancing would be enforced to the letter.
He also said that automated alcohol-based hand sanitisers would be fixed at vantage points on campus to minimise the risk of a potential outbreak in the school.
Furthermore, Mr Boakye revealed that that a COVID-19 Emergency Committee headed by the Vice Chancellor would periodically visit lecture halls and offices to ensure students and the teaching body adhere to the laid-down protocols.
While applauding the central government and Zoomlion’s efforts at helping to contain the spread of the disease, he explained that students whose courses do not require practical tuition would be allowed to continue to study via online learning platforms.
The Zoomlion disinfection team after the KTU moved to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
At KNUST, Zoomlion field officers disinfected lecture halls, various offices, halls of residences among other facilities.
For his part, the Public Relations Officer of the university, Dr Charles Obeng Sarpong, revealed that management was expecting over 3,400 final-year students on the re-opening day.
“…and all these students would strictly walk through all the safety protocols before they would be allowed back to campus,” he assured.
According to management of Zoomlion Ghana Limited, the exercise would be completed before the institutions officially reopen.
