Bedbugs infest SHSs in Western Region


At least five Senior High Schools, (SHSs) in the Western Region have been invaded by bedbug, causing discomfort and health problems for the students, which is hampering academic work.

The affected schools include the Sekondi College, St John’s Senior High School and Ghana Secondary/Technical School (GSTS), all in the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolis.
 
The others are the Esiama Senior High School in the Ellembelle District and Nsein Senior High School in the Nzema East District.

Reports say although the schools had closed for the Christmas vacation some students, who were studying on the school campuses, said apart from the bedbugs, the dormitories had also been invaded by cockroaches.

According to the students who spoke to reporters in anonymity, they said the bugs bit them at night making it difficult for them to sleep. 

The students claimed that due to the discomfort and health problems caused by the bugs, they sometimes spent the night in the classrooms.

The heads of some of the schools said fumigation of the schools was the only solution to the problem. 

However, the schools could not afford the cost involved in the exercise.

They added that they could also not levy the students with fees the Ghana Education Service (GES) had not approved and sanctioned.

Meanwhile, some old students of the GSTS residing in the United States have donated $10,000.00 for the fumigation of the school.

Their counterparts in Ghana have also donated GH¢9,000 and contracted Jem Intercontinental Services Ltd, a company which offers disinfection services, to carry out the exercise.

Speaking to the Daily Newspaper, Graphic, a Housemaster of GSTS, Mr. Felix Mensah, commended the old students for their effort and said without them it would have been difficult for the school to foot the entire cost of the fumigation.  


SOURCE: Daily Graphic