Environment
Consultant Seeks Policies On Waste Management
A medical waste expert, Mr
Jide Onayiga, has advised the Federal Government to implement policies that would make states to comply with best medical waste management practice.
Onayiga, who is a consultant with the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Lagos recently.
He made case for special funds to be provided and infrastructure put in place to enable states to prioritise and improve medical waste management for the welfare of hospital workers and patients.
“With the collaboration between LAWMA and the Federal Ministry of Health, LAWMA will be issuing certificate of clearance to all hospitals, we are looking at private hospitals.
“So, what we’ve put in place, this year for the first time, is like LAWMA will issue the certificate and the certificate means where or who is taking care of your medical wastes.
“So the information is passed on to HEFAMA (Health Facility Monitoring Accreditation), so when they come in for registration they have to get that certificate from LAWMA, to show that they are in compliance.
“Then the second thing we are looking at again is, any facility any personnel that violates, the Medical Director (MD) will take the responsibility.
“Part of what we are looking at is for them to attend the mandatory class on medical waste management, including the MD of that hospital.
“So, government is putting a lot of things in place besides the awareness, also control measures and punishment.“
Onayiga said the federal government needed to strengthen efforts at formulating effective guidelines for proper disposal of medical waste.
He said, “Government needs to make available resources to states and mandate them to be part of what the Lagos State has initiated.“
He urged the public to contribute their quota by ensuring that it complied with the best ways of medical waste disposal.
The consultant also called for sustained sensitisation of the public to the proper ways of disposal of such waste.
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) on Thursday, launched an awareness campaign, aimed at educating residents on the increasing impact of climate change.
The campaign also seeks to enlighten residents on the urgent need for personal and community protection measures.
During the launch in Uyo on Thursday, the Akwa Ibom Director of NOA, Mr Mkpoutom Mkpoutom, said that the campaign aims at enlightening residents, about the changes in weather patterns.
He said that this includes unpredictable rise in temperatures, and how these changes threaten public health across the state.
Mkpoutom noted that the current weather was not harmattan, but an extreme form of air pollution, which is harmful to health as it could cause oxidative stress which affects body balance.
“Our environment is changing rapidly, and the effects are evident in the disruptions faced by our communities.
“It is paramount that every citizen of Akwa Ibom understands these changes and take necessary steps to protect themselves, their families, and their livelihoods,” he said.
He appealed to citizens to take the following precautions which include wearing of nose mask, drinking sufficient water, covering of food and water to keep away dust, washing fruits thoroughly before eating, among others.
He directed all NOA structures within the state to engage with local communities through town hall meetings and collaboration.
He also urged engagement with schools and community leaders, to disseminate vital information on early warning signs, as well as safety protocols during extreme weather conditions.
The Chairman of Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State, Ms Surah Animashaun, has urged traders of Aiyetoro and Oluwo fish markets to consistently ensure a hygienic trading environment.
She urged the traders to maintain cleanliness and observe proper environmental sanitation in the markets.
Animashaun said this during a visit to some of the market areas in Epe on Saturday.
She said that clean markets were critical to public health.According to her, poor sanitation could lead to the outbreak of communicable diseases, especially in fish markets, where waste management must be handled with extra care.
The council chairman urged traders to dispose of refuse appropriately, avoid indiscriminate dumping of waste, and ensure regular cleaning of stalls and surroundings
She noted that environmental hygiene is a collective responsibility, adding that everyone should be involved in this development.
Animashaun also warned that the local government would not hesitate to enforce existing environmental laws, including sanctions against defaulters.
She assured traders of the council’s commitment to providing adequate waste disposal facilities and regular monitoring to sustain a clean and healthy market environment.
The council boss also urged traders to desist from selling by the roadside, so as to avoid accidents, noting that several motor accidents had occurred along the Aiyetoro market area.
“We, therefore, urge traders to stop selling on the roadside,” she said.
President, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Mrs Margaret Oguntala, has inaugurated the construction of 18 units residential terrace in highbrow Alausa area of Lagos toward bridging the nation’s shelter gap.
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