IC Quaye Fights Mosquitoes

THE GREATER Accra Regional Minister, Sheikh I.C. Quaye has called on residents in the region to desist from dumping refuse in drains and waterways in order to curb malaria and other diseases.

According to him, malaria cases in the region were on the increase, and therefore stressed the need for every individual to contribute through the application of basic hygienic rules as a way of supporting the 'campaign against mosquitoes' programme that he initiated.

He observed that by “helping this way, we would contribute to the national effort to eliminate and minimize the incidents of malaria in the region”.

Hon. Quaye made the call at La, a suburb of Accra on Wednesday, during the resumption of his 'war against mosquitoes' programme.

The spraying exercise, he said, started in the past five years but was suspended due to inadequate funds, and promised that this time round, the programme would be sustained for the motive behind it to be achieved.

He said since its resumption, the spraying exercise had covered the Ministries, Stadium Area from Alajo to Achimota, Alajo main drainage to Kotobabi, the Liberation Square, Tudu Township around the Aflao station and the Efua Sutherland Children's Park, among other areas.

Currently, the spraying gang, under the supervision of the Greater Accra Regional Coordination Council (GARCC), is to spend two weeks in La and its environs.

Other areas that are going to benefit from the exercise are the Kpeshie Lagoon area that had served over the years as a major breeding ground of mosquitoes in the city.

The team would then continue to Teshie, Nungua, Burma Camp and 37 Military Hospital areas.

The Regional Minister announced that the Ghana Highways Authority had been contracted to desilt most of the chocked drains in the city to enhance free flow of water.

The Programme Coordinator of the Council, Mr. Joe Lartey assured the public that the exercise would be repeated every three months, based on the three months potency of the insecticide being used.

The exercise, he noted, was effectively done in 2007 during the 9th AU Summit that was held in Accra, noting that the success chalked last year was due to the support received from the Libyan Leader, Col. Muamar Gaddafi who donated a giant mist-blower, large stock of insecticides and protective clothings to the Council.

Mr. Lartey acknowledged the efforts of Sonitra, a construction company, for supporting the current exercise with GH¢150, 000, and asked other corporate bodies and individuals to support the programme to make it a success.