Health Minister tasks MMDAs to fight mosquitoes, rats, ticks & lice …as he launches PEVAG

The Minister of Health, Dr. Kwaku Agyemang Manu has urged the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to prioritize pest, vector control and disinfection exercises to minimize pest transmitted diseases and other infectious diseases.

He made the call during the launch of the Pest and Vector Control Association of Ghana (PEVAG) at the UPSA auditorium in Accra.

Dr. Manu indicated that there is an increase in pests and vectors such as rats and mosquitoes that are transmitting deadly diseases hence the need to control their spread by engaging in pest and vector control activities in the various assemblies to minimize their spread.

The Chief Executive Officer of Accra Metropolitan Assembly (A.M.A), Hon. Ahmed Adjei Sowah indicated that Malaria is one of the top ten diseases in the country which is transmitted by female anopheles mosquitoes.

He said PEVAG as an association will help bring professionalism in the sector and standardize the use of required chemicals to reduce environmental impact of their activities.

The National President of PEVAG, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong said PEVAG supported government to control the spread of COVID-19 and is adequately prepared for post Covid-19 and other future pandemic.

He indicated that Ghana was acknowledged globally as one of the best countries in the management of Covid-19. “This was partly due to the healthy partnership that existed between government and the private sector which included PEVAG”.

Dr. Agyepong pointed out that the vision of PEVAG is to build the capacity of its members to the highest International standards and with the support of government, development partners and other stakeholders will help provide the needed equipment and logistics to provide environmental friendly services in a safe and healthy manner.

The Deputy Executive Director of EPA, Mr. Ebenezer Sarpong in his statement explained that pests and vectors are organisms that transmit diseases and are nuisance that need to be controlled. “The EPA requires for registration of pesticides and other chemicals used in pest and vector control to ensure that only approved chemicals are used to prevent their damaging effects on the environment”.

He added that it will be easy to license and regulate the operations of companies in the pest and vector control industry with PEVAG as the association body.

PEVAG was formed in March 2020 and currently has over 150 member companies nationwide and aimed at bringing together the various industry players to ensure standardization, improved operations through capacity building and solidify the efforts of state agencies to combat the increasing spate of pest and vector infestations in our cities.

The event was on the theme “Prioritizing infection prevention and vector control: Lessons from Covid-19”.

Below are photos from the ceremony: