Group Makes Case For Environmental Health Officers

Rivers State chapter of the Environmental Health Officers Association of Nigeria (EHOAN) has called for the inclusion of Environmental Health courses in the Governor’s Special Overseas Scholarships being managed by Rivers State’s Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA).
The association’s President ,Comrade Reuben Wecheonwu said during the celebration of this year’s World Environmental Health Day in Port Harcourt said that despite the vital role environmental health plays in poverty reduction and disease prevention, the profession had continued to suffer neglect.
Wecheonnwu also decried the non-appointment of environmental health officers as heads of environmental health and sanitation – related agencies, describing it as a threat to adequate tackling of environmental health risks.
He also called for the immediate employment of environmental health officers into the ministries, while an office accommodation should be provided for environmental health officers in ministries and the various parastatals in the state.
He said that the theme of this year’s celebration which is: “Emerging Environmental Health Risks and Challenges of Tomorrow”, was apt as it would provide opportunity for governments the world over to critically examine the emerging environmental health risks and challenges in the society.
“There is a great need for total commitment and strong political will on the side of government and absolute dedication on the part of the environmental health practitioners to environmental issues, if we must succeed in the battle against these emerging risks and challenges”, he said.
In his goodwill message, the representative of the Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Ugochukwu Immegbu said that the ministry was planning to post environmental health officers to all local government areas of the state.
Earlier, chairman of the occasion, High Chief Mac Moses Jiawareakong said that the issue of environmental health must be given serious attention by both government and other stakeholders in the state.

Harry Ikuroaa