There's pollution everywhere... I smell it in the air. I feel it in the earth. I see it in the countenance of people- they look pale. Their health is deteriorating.
The countless number of vehicles that ply our roads day and night "non-stop", emits hazardous and toxic fumes into the atmosphere. This life-threatening substance called Carbon monoxide is inhaled by many Ghanaians who are either ignorant or perhaps conscious of its grave effects- cancer of (whatever part of the body), cardiac arrests, suffocation and a weakened immune system. The effects are a boxful!
In the United States and other parts of Europe where security agencies and vehicular regulatory bodies ensure that vehicles particularly public transports are devoid of excessive emission of fumes, periodically disinfected and with powerful working engines to reduce noise pollution, there is still a great number of people who are prone to toxic fumes and the contraction of communicable diseases like tuberculosis, catarrh, viruses, and skin rashes all gotten from an ailing passenger on-board a vehicle, and a lot more.
In Africa particularly Ghana where the temperature gets warmer, with passengers in vehicles huddled together and sweating profusely, the least said about the contraction of such communicable diseases the better.
The question I ask is, has the vehicles on our roads been disinfected? I demand an answer from the Ministry of Transport as to why it had not embark on educating drivers and the citizenry on the importance of regular disinfection of vehicles!
Well perhaps the leadership of such Ministry do not know of this.
The truth is, the seats in most vehicles are drenched in sweat, serving as a medium for the easy growth of germs and viruses. The toffee wrappers, water sachets, peels of fruits, dust from passengers feet and a lot more, serve as breeding grounds for unseen micro-organisms and even mosquitoes. Pay a short visit to the terminals of these vehicles. You will be shocked at what you see.
I know some drivers will say "but we do wash our vehicles with water and detergent at washing bays?" Yes you do. But I am afraid because some micro-organisms are difficult to be washed off by water and detergent. They can be eliminated completely through sterilization and application of powerful antiseptics.
An unkempt vehicle, coagulated with filth, seats drenched in sweat, will always endanger the health of passengers. The metals of some seats are exposed. Others are rusted and can easily spread tetanus when it hurts someone. No wonder I find some Ghanaians looking pale, weak and fever-stricken as a result of frequent use of public transport which have not been disinfected for ages!
More diseases are picked up in subways, elevated trains and trolley cars. These venues are normally filled with great numbers of people. In Ghanaian lorry stations the situation is worse-noise and choked gutters everywhere. Cleanliness remains a dream yet to be fulfilled. The end result? The health of passengers is always at risk.
On this note, my advice to the Ghanaians and countries of the world is: ensure that vehicles particularly public transports are frequently disinfected to rid them off tough micro-organisms, germs and viruses as a result of poor maintenance of such vehicles.
In health is life and life gives room for productivity and innovation.
No one will want to walk long distances.That will be stressful.
Therefore, we must all as a collective responsibility campaign for the regular maintenance and disinfection our vehicles. By doing so we safeguard our own health and precious life.
Comments