The series of disinfection and fumigation exercises undertaken by the Government in collaboration with Zoomlion Ghana Limited (ZGL) has helped to reduce drastically bedbugs’ infestation in the various senior high schools (SHSs), particularly in the Northern Region.
The submission was made by the Regional Director of Education, Northern/North East Regions, Dr. Peter Attafuah, when basic and SHSs in the Northern and Savannah Regions on Friday, January 8, 2021 got fumigated and disinfected to pave way for their reopening.
According to him, bedbugs’ infestation was one of the challenges confronting many of the SHSs in the region, which was affecting academic work.
“But ever since the central government partnered Zoomlion Ghana Limited to undertake the series of disinfection and fumigation exercises in the wake of the Covid, I must admit that the notoriety of bedbugs has been reduced to the barest minimum in many of the SHSs in the Northern Region,” he said.
The schools are being disinfected and fumigated to make them safe for the return of students to continue with their academic work. And it is in line with the President’s directive for all educational institutions to undergo disinfection and fumigation before reopening.
Dr Attafuah therefore, expressed gratitude to the central government and Zoomlion for their continuous support so far to educational institutions in the two regions and across the country.
He also used the chance to stress the need for the campaign to go back to school to be intensified.
This, he contended, had become crucial in the light of the fact that many of the male students during the closure of schools period resorted to menial jobs like galamsey (illegal prospecting for gold), while a lot of the female students have also been impregnated.
“In the wake of the above, it is becoming difficult for the various SHSs in the regions up north to have their total number of students back to school,” he said.
The deputy Senior Housemaster of Northern School of Business Senior High School (NABISCO) in Tamale, Northern Region, AmantanaMumuni, also confirmed the admission by the regional director of education that bedbugs have been reduced in many of the SHSs in the Northern Region.
To this end, he applauded the partnership between government and Zoomlion aimed at fighting especially Covid and bedbugs in SHSs.
He indicated that his school was prepared to receive the students when school reopens on Friday, January 15, 2021.
“And as part of preparations, management has held meetings with all the various stakeholders to ensure that the reopening is successful,” MrMumuni noted.
He went on to add that the school has also put in place all the Covid safety measures in line with their strict adherence to prevent any case of the disease on campus.
“The safety protocols are there for the students to observe and we will enforce them,” he assured.
MrMumuni further said management had also designated an office in the school to be used as clinic to help check possible Covid cases.
“We have specialised doctors who will monitor the conditions of the students,” he disclosed.
However, he averred that it will be difficult for the school to practise the social/physical distancing protocol.
The reason, MrMumuni explained, was because his school did not have adequate classrooms.
That notwithstanding, he gave a firm assurance that the school will make sure the students are safe throughout their stay on campus. He sounded a note of caution to the returning students to always observe all the safety protocols while on campus.
Similarly, the Headmaster of Tamale Senior High School (TAMASCO), Rev Edward Azeka, noted that it will be practically impossible for his school to observe the physical distancing protocol.
“However, we have had several meetings with staff members, housemasters and different departments and are ready to welcome back to school the students. Also we have put in place all the key Covid measures,” he said.
“We expecting about 1,800 Form 3 and Form 2 students when school reopens,” he revealed.
The Northern Regional General Manager of ZGL, Mr Peter Awuni, said his outfit would be disinfecting about sixty-four (64) SHSs and six thousand (6,000) basic schools in the two regions—Northern and Savannah Regions.
