Environment
400 Benue Communities,Open Defecation-Free -UNICEF
UNICEF, in collaboration with the Network for Civil Society on Water and Sanitation (NEWSAN), has declared more than 400 communities in Benue Open Defecation-Free (ODF).
Programme Manager of NEWSAN, Mr Shem Adah said this in Abuja recently in an interview with newsmen.
Adah said the UNICEF and NEWSAN made the declaration after the agencies had carried out a verification exercise in the communities.
He explained that the exercise, which was tagged: Third party verification on Open Defecation-Free certification, was carried out in collaboration with the States Task Group on Sanitation and Local Government Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Department.
He said the exercise was carried out to certify communities that were open defecation-free in Benue, adding that four local governments were selected for the exercise.
Adah said the councils are Takar, Ogbadigbo, Oju and Kanshisha local government areas.
“Society for Water and Sanitation (NEWSAN), in collaboration with UNIICEF and States Task Group on Sanitation and local government -WASH department, carried out a third party verification on ODF certification.
“That is, certified communities that are open defecation-free in Benue State; and out of these communities, four LGAs were selected and these are Takar, Ogbadigbo, Oju and Kanshisha local governments were selected for the verification exercise.
“Now in Benue State, 755 communities were reported to be open-defecation free. Out of these 750 that were reported, verification was carried out and out of this verification, 55 per cent were actually open defecation-free.
“And then the others were also trying; out of it, we were able to go ahead to sensitise on those communities and build more awareness in these communities that are not open defecation free that their sanitation practices have not measured up to expectations.“
Adah also told newsmen that the project which took place in Benue started with a debriefing in Otukpo to enlighten the stakeholders on the guidelines and objectives of the exercise.
According to him, the Community-led Total Sanitation approach is the method used to achieve the ODF status, which enables a community to take ownership of the sanitation facilities provided.
He added that the facilities that were provided included both sanitation hardware and software.
“The community-led total sanitation approach has to do with communities taking ownership of sanitation facilities and sanitation in their communities.
“And these also include both hardware and software, hardware in the area of borehole and software in the area of sensitisation.
“Behavioural change, practices in the area of sanitation and how has it replicated in their health; how has it also increased their yields in time of farming and in terms of commercial life of the community.
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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