Zoomlion Ghana Limited has launched a nationwide disinfection and fumigation exercise to reduce public health risks arising from the recent floods across the country.

The eight-week exercise, being undertaken in collaboration with the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), covers all 16 regions and targets flood-affected public places including markets, lorry parks, schools, health facilities, public toilets, refuse container sites, government offices, recreational parks and beaches.

In the Volta Region, the exercise is expected to cover all 18 districts with the regional phase scheduled to end on September 9, 2026.

Speaking during the launch in the region, the Regional Manager of Zoomlion Ghana, Emmanuel Amemakalor, said the initiative is intended to prevent possible outbreaks of diseases following the floods.

He said floodwaters often carried refuse, sewage, chemicals, animal carcasses and other contaminants from one location to another, creating conditions favourable for the spread of diseases and the breeding of disease vectors.

According to him, the floods had displaced vectors and pests such as snakes and rodents while stagnant water had created breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

He noted that the situation could increase the risk of diseases such as cholera, typhoid, malaria, dysentery and other diarrhoeal diseases if appropriate preventive measures were not taken.

Mr Amemakalor said the exercise had already begun in Ho and would subsequently cover the remaining districts with teams visiting locations that were directly or indirectly affected by the floods.

He stated that the exercise would cover lorry parks, markets, public toilets, schools, health facilities and other public institutions as well as areas housing people who had been displaced by the floods.

"Markets had been prioritised because contaminated floodwaters could affect food products and create an avenue for pests and disease-causing organisms to enter the food chain," he disclosed.

"When the floodwaters are contaminated, it gets into food, which gets into the market. The drains also get choked and contaminated," he cautioned.

"Controlling rodents, flies and other pests at markets would help reduce the risk of contaminated food being taken into homes," the regional manager said.

The Zoomlion Regional Manager also appealed to residents to improve waste disposal practices and desist from dumping refuse into drains.

“Improper disposal of solid waste contributed to choked drains and worsened flooding during heavy rains," he said.

The Regional Environmental Health Officer, Stella Awusavi Kumedzro, commended Zoomlion for the initiative, describing it as a timely intervention to avert potential public health emergencies.

She said the recent floods had been particularly severe in areas including Anloga, South Tongu, Keta and parts of Ketu North, although the impact in the Ho Municipality was relatively limited.

"Floodwaters could sweep through refuse dumps, carcass sites and other contaminated areas before redistributing the pollutants to communities." She said.

She said several health facilities, schools, markets and homes were affected by the floods, making all locations reached by the floodwaters potential public health risk areas.

Madam Kumedzro warned that the presence of faecal matter and other contaminants in floodwaters could lead to outbreaks of cholera, typhoid fever, dysentery and other diarrhoeal diseases.

She further noted that the floods could displace dangerous reptiles including snakes and scorpions, from their natural habitats.

"Stagnant water that remained in affected communities for several days could also serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes while decomposing animals and carcasses could increase the population of houseflies."

"I want to urge residents to cooperate with the fumigation teams to ensure the success of the exercise," she said.

The exercise will involve the use of EPA-approved disinfectants and fumigation chemicals with high-pressure backpack sprayers, ultra-low-volume (ULV) fogging machines and manual cleaning.

Thermal fogging will be used for outdoor spaces while ULV cold fogging will be deployed in indoor environments. 

Larviciding will also be undertaken in stagnant water bodies, alongside strategic rodent control.

Spraying personnel are expected to use appropriate personal protective equipment including coveralls, goggles, respirators, gloves and rubber boots.

Residents have been advised to cover food and drinking water, evacuate treated premises when instructed, keep pets and livestock away from treated areas and observe the stipulated re-entry periods.

The public has also been urged to report any adverse reactions or concerns to the nearest environmental health officer.

Zoomlion and the MMDAs further appealed to communities to maintain proper waste disposal practices, clear debris from drains and surroundings, and eliminate stagnant water to complement the exercise.

The nationwide intervention, which commenced on August 11, is expected to strengthen post-flood disease prevention, reduce vector populations and restore safe environmental conditions in affected communities.