BY UCHE-UGBEJIE ANITA CHUKWUMA
As part of strategies to reduce pests and vectors infestations, Delta state government has begun fumigation, deratisation and larviciding of residences of senior government officials in Asaba, the state capital.
According to Mr. Sylvester Ofuyekpone, the chief scientific officer in the sanitation and waste management department of the ministry of environment, the exercise which begun on Friday would run through next week.
Mr. Ofuyekpone told this reporter that the ministry had fumigated, deratised and larvicided the legislators quarters along Okpanam road and Fine Home estate along Summit road. Our reporter was on ground as the fumigation held at Fine Home Estate along Summit Road.
The ministry official explained that the process of deratisation and larviciding are efforts aimed at combating invasion of rodents and stemming the infestation of larva in homes and surroundings.
He told this medium at Fine Home Estate: “We did deratisation and broadcasting of anti-repellants of vectors at legislators’ quarters. What we did there was to combat pests and vectors, especially rodents, snakes and scorpions.
“On Saturday, we carried out fumigation and larviciding. We go to the toilet and treat the toilet. Cockroaches hide in the toilet tanks. We treat the toilet system and fumigate the houses and the entire environment.
“What we are doing right now is outdoor exercise of fumigation of pests and vectors. It is aimed at eliminating or combating pests and vectors infestations of the entire environment.
“So far, we have fumigated house of assembly legislators’ quarters and Fine Home Estate. Next week, we will go to commissioners’ quarters, permanent secretaries quarters, chief of staff quarters and SSG quarters. We are going to carry out the same exercise there.”
Mr. Ofuyekpone explained that the exercise is aimed at eliminating pests and vectors infestation so as residents could have healthy, clean and safe environment. He added that pests could transmit diseases that could be harmful to human existence.
“We want to bring them to the barest minimum. We know nature has a way of bringing them up, as such we are also working to combat them. This is not a one-off exercise you do and forget. It will be a routine exercise which will be done in every quarter of the year. If they are too much in the system, they constitute health hazards. So, we always look for ways of reducing them.”
Responding to a question on what causes pests and vectors infestation, he said their presence is a result of dirty and bushy environment, poor waste disposal system and stagnant water in homes and surroundings.
He explained that such unhealthy attitudes trigger rats, snakes, rodents and mosquitoes breeding in homes, adding that people should keep their environments clean and clean off stagnant waters so as to reduce their presence.
“People should ensure clean environment, stagnant water should be removed. Bushes should be well cleared. People should practice best waste management strategies. Bag your refuse and engage PSPs. If these practices are done, infestation will reduce. But if the environment is dirty, you are inviting pests and rodents,” Ofuyekpone said.
Mrs. Patience Owivri, deputy director, department of sanitation and waste management and other staff of the ministry were part of the team that carried out the fumigation, deratisation and larvicing exercise.
