222 Views Posted on 03-Mar-2011 under Health

A team of experts from the Ghana Armed Forces have arrived at Keta to review the situation of the army worm invasion and also render support to the District Assembly and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to eradicate the worms.
The team which is currently touring affected areas has expressed difficulty in starting the spraying exercise today.
According to one of the experts, there is the need to examine the affected communities before proceeding with the spraying exercise.
The worms usually come out early in the morning and in the evening, hence there is the need to strategise, one of the experts said.
The worm invasion which was detected about a week ago has prevented farmers from visiting their farms and many residents in the affected area have been locked up in their homes to prevent any encounter with the worms.
According to the residents, the worms do not bite, however they make the body to itch when in close contact.
The Pest and Insect Infestation Committee of National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has unveiled a new chemical receptive to aquatic life to help eradicate the worms that have invaded some communities in the Volta Region.
Some of the affected communities include Blemazado, Agorgbledokui, Hatorgodo, Atiavi, Lawoshime, Nagodzi and Lodzogbi.
Mr. P.K. Abonie, Deputy National Co-ordinator of NADMO, made this known to the press in an interview after an emergency meeting in Accra.
He said with the assistance of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) Nim Oil had been identified as an effective and environmentally friendly chemical to replace Dipel which was previously used to eradicate the worms.
“We are using the new chemical to replace the previous one which is not suitable for aquatic life,” he added.
Mr Abonie said a team of experts would be dispatched on Wednesday, January 19, to review the situation and undertake trials with the new chemical before intensified spraying would begin.
He said samples of the worms would be taken for further examination.
The first invasion of the worms occurred in 2004.
Mr Abonie said efforts were being taken to prevent deaths and bring relief to the people.
He said appropriate public organisations such as the Plant Protection Unit of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and GAF were assisting NADMO to deal with the invasion.
The invading caterpillar kind of worm is said not to bite but has temporarily deprived some people, mostly peasant farmers and fishermen of their livelihoods.
They are locked up in their homes to prevent encounter with the worms that do not bite but makes the body to itch when in close contact.
The worm invasion was detected about a week ago.
The long awaited spraying of the worms which have invaded some communities in the Keta Municipality started last week.
Home of the affected communities include Blemazado, Agorgbledokui, Hatorgodo, Atiavi, Lawoshime, Nagodzi and Lodzogbi.
A team of experts from the Ghana Armed Forces arrived at Keta last week to review the situation and render support to the District Assembly and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to eradicate the worms.
The worms which are noted to surface early in the morning and evening have prevented farmers from visiting their farms and many residents in the affected area have been locked up in their homes to prevent any encounter with the worms.
The worm invasion was detected about a week ago, and although they do not bite they make the body itch when in close contact.