The Volta Regional Environmental Health and Sanitation Unit has intensified disinfection, disinfestation and public health interventions across flood-affected communities to prevent possible outbreaks of waterborne and vector-borne diseases following the recent floods that hit parts of the region.
Madam Stella Kumedzro, Volta Regional Environmental Health Officer, said the June 29 floods affected 11 districts, with Keta, Anloga, South Tongu, North Tongu, Ketu North, Ketu South, Agotime-Ziope and Akatsi North among the hardest hit.
Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), she said although the level of destruction varied from district to district, the floods submerged several water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities, including public toilets and wells, damaged water supply systems and exposed many communities to serious environmental health risks.
She said floodwaters contaminated drinking water sources after inundating public toilets, bursting water pipelines and overflowing into wells relied upon by many households for domestic use.
“These conditions significantly increase the risk of faecal-oral diseases, making immediate public health interventions necessary to protect affected communities,” Madam Kumedzro stated.
She noted that the floods had also displaced dangerous reptiles, including snakes and scorpions, from their natural habitats into residential areas, posing additional threats to residents.
According to her, stagnant floodwaters had created ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes, increasing the risk of malaria, dengue fever and other mosquito-borne diseases, while the proliferation of houseflies and cockroaches could accelerate the spread of cholera, typhoid fever, diarrhea diseases and other communicable infections.
Madam Kumedzro said the nationwide two-day clean-up exercise declared by President John Dramani Mahama for Friday, July 10, and Saturday, July 11, formed part of broader measures to restore environmental sanitation and safeguard public health.
She disclosed that the Volta Regional Environmental Health and Sanitation Unit, under the Volta Regional Coordinating Council, had directed all Municipal and District Environmental Health Offices to undertake mass disinfection and, where necessary, disinfestation exercises in flood-affected communities.
She explained that floodwaters had washed contaminants from pit latrines, public toilets, refuse dumps and cemeteries into surrounding communities and water bodies, increasing environmental pollution and the risk of disease transmission.
“The objective is to reduce disease-causing organisms in the environment and prevent outbreaks of cholera, typhoid fever, diarrhea diseases, worm infestations and other diseases of public health importance,” she said.
Madam Kumedzro said the Agotime-Ziope District had already commenced disinfection activities, while South Tongu and other affected districts had scheduled similar exercises in the coming days.
She said Environmental Health Officers had also intensified risk communication and community engagement activities at safe havens and in affected communities to educate residents on preventive measures.
The officers, she said, were educating residents on household water treatment, safe water storage, personal hygiene, food safety and proper sanitation practices to minimise post-flood health risks.
Madam Kumedzro announced that a regional monitoring team, led by Mr James Gunu, Volta Regional Minister, would tour selected districts during the nationwide clean-up exercise to assess compliance with the President’s directive.
She said the team, comprising officials from the Volta Regional Coordinating Council, the Environmental Health and Sanitation Unit, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and the security services, would monitor activities in South Tongu, Anloga and Keta Municipality on Friday, while other regional officials would supervise the exercise in the remaining districts.
Madam Kumedzro appealed to residents across the region to actively participate in the nationwide clean-up exercise by desilting drains, clearing refuse, eliminating mosquito breeding sites and maintaining clean surroundings.
She stressed that environmental sanitation remained a shared responsibility and urged communities to sustain good sanitation practices beyond the two-day exercise to prevent future disease outbreaks and maintain the Volta Region’s reputation as one of the cleanest regions in the country.