The Chief Executive Officer of PIWAK Natural Health and producer of the 3P Garlic Mixture, Dr Prince Nelson Mortoti, has urged Ghanaians not to allow the country’s recurring floods to develop into a public health crisis through the spread of malaria.
According to him, while floods often result in the destruction of lives and property, they also leave behind stagnant water, refuse and choked drains that create ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes, increasing the risk of malaria infections.
Speaking in an interview, Dr Mortoti said many communities tend to focus on the immediate effects of flooding but pay little attention to the health risks that emerge after the rains have subsided.
He explained that floodwaters usually carry waste materials into drains and open spaces, and if the waste is not cleared promptly, stagnant pools of water become breeding sites for mosquitoes that transmit malaria.
“We should not allow floods to turn into a malaria crisis. Once the rains are over, communities must quickly organise clean-up exercises, desilt gutters and remove all waste that can trap water and encourage mosquito breeding,” he stated.
Dr Mortoti appealed to metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies, environmental health officers, traditional authorities and community members to work together to ensure drains remain free of refuse throughout the rainy season.
He also advised residents to refrain from dumping waste into gutters, stressing that indiscriminate disposal of refuse contributes significantly to flooding and the spread of mosquito-borne diseases.
The herbal medicine practitioner further urged the public to observe safety precautions during periods of heavy rainfall by staying indoors whenever possible and avoiding floodwaters, which can pose both health and safety risks.
Dr Mortoti stressed that malaria remains one of Ghana’s major public health challenges and said preventing the disease requires a combination of good environmental sanitation, personal responsibility and sustained public education.
He expressed the hope that with cleaner communities, regular desilting of drains and greater public cooperation, the country could significantly reduce malaria cases and protect lives during the rainy season.
