Enough stocks to combat bed bugs

Laura Maposa

HARARE mayor, Jacob Mafume says council has sufficient stock of chemicals to combat the bed bug infestation at Mbare Hostels.

He made these remarks yesterday as he led the fumigation programme at the affected flats in Mbare.

Speaking during the launch of the spraying program at the open space near Matererini Hostels, Mayor Mafume urged residents to ensure that blankets and clothing are washed and dried in the sun and then ironed.

“We have responded to this health crisis being caused by bed bugs. We want to mobilize the community in our pest control. How we’re going to do it the chemicals that we need to spray we’re going to buy more.

“We are going to train the volunteers from the community to help us spray these bedbugs.

“We are also going to ask for help from the ministry, we have the chemicals in stock that we need to spray.

“We’re going to calendarize this fumigation, so that this will not interrupt in the short term. And for the long time, we need to assist people to teach them on how to deal with situations like this in terms of sewage and hygiene.

“We are going to spray all those glasses to avoid the bedbugs from spreading from the flat to people’s houses, and we are also going to do this with immediate effects so that people can stay in safe spaces.”

Mayor Mafume also encouraged residents to practice hygiene and to stop using flats as storage facilities.

“Advice to residents on bed bugs (tsikidzi). Ensure that blankets and clothing are washed and dried in the sun and then ironed.

“Ensure that old and disused furniture and rags are destroyed.

“Residents must stop using their rooms as storage for second hand clothes for sale.

“Residents must volunteer to participate in public health activities.”

Meanwhile, City Health Director Prosper Chonzi says personal hygiene is very important in dealing with bed bugs. He said people must wash and iron their clothes every time as these bugs survive on dirty situations.

Speaking at the launch of the bed bugs fumigation programme in Mbare, Dr Chonzi said:

“Residence should put the washing and the direct sunlight so that any bedbugs or insect are killed by the direct sunlight.

“After that, we advise residence to use a very hot iron before they wear their clothes and before they put their clothes in the storages, so as to reduce the spread of disease

“Unfortunately for the Mbare residents, if one flat is contaminated, the other one is definitely contaminated because of the spacing.

“We encourage residents to have their houses fumigated.”