Environment
Group, UNICEF To Introduce Water, Sanitation Clubs In Schools
The Youth Water Sanita
tion and Hygiene (YOUTHWASH), in partnership with the UN Children’s Fund is set to introduce school sanitation clubs to encourage young people promote hygienic practices.
The group coordinator, Mr Nature Obiakor, told news- men in Abuja that this ` would also help in educating them on healthy living.
He said there was the need to build the capacity of young persons, adding “they are the future leaders, capable of making desired change.”
According to him, schools are important points of learning behavioural practices capable of being replicated at homes among parents and guardians.
“When children learn about the importance of water, hygiene and sanitation, they make informed decisions; they could tell their parents, guardians, and friends on the dangers of not practicing hygienic behaviour.
“We are partnering with UNICEF and WaterAid Nigeria to make this a reality, we are commencing in FCT schools, with time, we will replicate it in other parts of the country.”
He said the project was in line with the implementation of the African Ministers Council on Water Policy and strategy for youth mainstreaming in water and sanitation project.
Obiakor said that water and jobs were related, as it could be an avenue for entrepreneurial development, saying “when water was available, young people could get job opportunities.
“We believe that water and sanitation is a cross cutting issue, we need water for agriculture, we need water for building purposes, we need water when you want to live healthy.
“While we talk about Water and jobs, there are so many other aspects of water that provides or creates jobs.
“In Abuja here, you find out that there are a lot of boreholes, the borehole drills are being fabricated by people.
“The fabrication of the borehole drilling machine is an opportunity for young persons,” he said.
He said Nigeria could not talk about water without talking about sanitation, adding that the group was exploring job opportunities in recycling waste management and energy for the youths.
The coordinator stressed the need for Nigerians to pay for water consumed; stating that although water was free, the processes for purifying water was not free.
He urged Nigerians to demand for water from its leaders, as it was a human right.
“My advice is that Nigerians must understand that we must pay for water, because a lot of Nigerians out there believe that water is free, it is just a free gift of nature and you are not supposed to pay for it.
“The raw water might be free, but the process of purifying that water is not free, people must understand that they must pay for the use.
“People should also realise that WASH is a basic human right, and they should start demanding from government, from politicians to ensure that these rights are gotten,” Obiakor.
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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