Female GHANASCO students develop locally made remedies to fight bedbug infestation in schools

Story by: Isabella Kabukuor Atrikpe

Three female students of the Ghana Senior High School (GHANASCO) in Tamale have developed locally produced remedies aimed at tackling the growing problem of bedbug infestation in senior high schools across the country.

The students used locally available materials and ingredients to prepare different formulations, which they subsequently tested to determine their effectiveness against bedbugs.

According to the students, the locally produced treatments demonstrated promising results, with the various formulations reportedly killing bedbugs within a few minutes.

The initiative is seen as a potentially affordable and locally sourced solution to the persistent challenge of bedbug infestation, which has affected some schools and created concerns over the comfort and well-being of students.

The students said their work was inspired by the need to find a practical solution to the problem using materials that are readily available within the local environment.

They explained that they prepared different samples of the treatment and tested them against bedbugs to determine which formulations produced the best results.

The students said the formulations were able to “kill the insects within a few minutes,” highlighting their potential as an alternative approach to controlling bedbug infestations in schools.

The innovation also demonstrates the capacity of young people to apply scientific knowledge to address challenges within their communities.

With further research, testing and appropriate validation, the students’ innovation could contribute to the development of an affordable, locally sourced approach to bedbug control in schools.