Residents at Nyashegu and Gumani have continued to face the invasion of mosquitoes because of the stagnant Waters in the storm drained which passes through the area.
The people said they have come to accept the mosquitoes as part of them even though they make live very difficult and uncomfortable for them.
According to them, the stagnant water in the drains continues to breed mosquitoes making the areas all season malaria prone.
Narrating their ordeals to Zaa News, a resident, Ayishetu Seidu who lives closer to the storm drain described the mosquitoes as bigger than even house flies.
The tiny insects she explained have found safe-heave in their rooms and are always ready to strike without provocation.
‘We use mosquito coil but that only calm down; as soon as the coil finishes your sleep ends’, Mrs Seidu stated.
She added that; sometimes the fans they use help but in instances there is a power outage there is no sleep.
Mrs Seidu lamented about the frequent illness of her children and appealed to the Sagnarigu municipal assembly and the Tamale metropolitan assembly to speed up works on the drains.
She explained that, unlike the villages where during worm season you can sleep outside the compound, they cannot attempt. She expressed fears that apart from being malaria vulnerable, chances of them getting sleeping sickness is high.
Mrs Ayishetu who live in a three -bed room compound house said had Insecticide treated Nets 3 years ago and nobody in the house has.
She suspects the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) stopped distribution of the Treated nets because of reports that some people were using it as garden nets instead of sleeping under it.
Another resident, Sanatu Bagbia Ibrahim who corroborated with Mrs Ayishetu said she is living with malaria parasite after several laboratory test stated that the whole area is malaria endemic zone which needs National malaria Control Program attention.
Mrs Ibrahim suggested extension of Indoor Residual Spraying exercise to help mitigate their suffering.
Figures at the community clinic
Checks at the Nyashegu health center reveals that malaria cases are prevalence. Records from the facility recorded 59 cases of malaria between September to December 2020. Out of the number 13 were pregnant women.
In January2021, the facility recorded 25 cases in the first quarter of 2021 with two pregnant women.
Assemblyman for Nyashegu/Gumani electoral area Mr Moahmmed Awal told Zaa News his people are in a very difficult situation when it comes malaria. The worried residents Mr Awal said want the stagnant pools of waters to be clear.
He said even though the cases are coming down, more efforts needed to ensure that
He called on the assembly to link up with the National Malaria Control Program to partner with Zoomlion for periodic fumigation.
