Environmental Health Officers Worry Over Poor Sanitary Condition

The Environmental Health Officers Registration Council of Nigeria (EHORECON), has expressed concern over the deteriorating sanitary condition of the nation’s environment.

Alhaji Yunusa Danyaya, the Chairman of the Council, who is also the Emir of Ningi, said this in Lafia, Nasarawa state, at the opening of a three-day mandatory continuing education programme for environmental health workers.

Danyaya attributed the increase in the rate of preventable diseases to the non-recognition of the contribution of professional environmental health workers.

Represented by Chief Anthony Ezekwesili, a member of the council, the emir said the prevalence of diseases such as diarrhoea, lassa fever and malaria, was due to the absence of health workers to advise the people on how to take care of the environment.

He said the council had concluded arrangements to cooperate with law enforcement agencies to prosecute quacks in the profession.

He urged governments at all levels and other employers of labour to lift the embargo on the employment of environmental health workers to enable Nigeria to meet the MDGs on sanitation.