Environment
Foundation Tasks Elected Leaders On Water, Sanitation
The Senior Programme Officer, Global Health Awareness Research Foundation, Mrs Ebele Ofora,has called on citizens to demand their rights to water and sanitation from elected political officeholders.
Ofora told the newsmen that this became necessary following poor access to potable Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities in parts of the country.
She noted that the group was implementing the Sustainable Total Sanitation programme in partnership with WaterAid Nigeria to carry out community mobilisation and engagements for WASH.
According to her, part of the activities is the signing of pledge cards to show commitment, saying as elections have come and gone, follow-up on these commitment was ongoing.
“We are implementing a project sponsored by WaterAid Nigeria called Sustainable Total Sanitation, part of the activities we carried out is the community mobilisation and engagements, the Vote for WASH.
“The community members must understand that WASH is their right, it’s a human right issue.
“The vote for WASH campaign is a strategy to engage political Office holders, it’s not the period of I will give you salt and rice, they need to know that it’s their responsibility and are obligated to provide them.
‘’They include water and sanitation facilities in all public places such as markets, parks, religious places and hospitals.
“The strategy is meant to educate communities to demand for their rights with political office holders.’’
Ofora said that a survey carried out in Enugu in four pilot Local Government Areas, which was a fall out from the declaration of a national emergency by the president in the WASH sector.
She said that this revealed poor water and sanitation practice in the state.
“The refuse is being emptied in the river and you realised that at the other end of the rivers, inhabitants use the water for household purposes, drinking among others.’’
She said that due to advocacy and awareness campaign being carried out, there were reports that the sewage disposal had been banned with the tankers also being banned from disposing waste into the rivers.
Ofora said that it was important for laws and policies on safe disposal of waste and sewage to be available and implemented, and if not done, it would have a direct impact on the environment and populace.
She said that with the support from UN Children’s Fund Zone, a field office, implemented the Support for Community Engagement and Monitoring of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM/C) intervention among youths.
Ofora said that the programme, which started in January 2018, was aimed at increasing the level of knowledge of participants on the health risks and implications of female genital cutting in 10 communities in Afikpo North LGA, Ebonyi.
According to her, part of the objective was to carry out advocacy on the public to abandon the practice and for community leaders to take the lead and find an action plan and resolution for sustainability.
”Global Health Awareness Research Foundation carried out monitoring visits to the communities as part of its interventions in the FGM/C abandonment programme with the support of UNICEF.
‘’As a follow up to the community entry meetings and the outreaches conducted in the community.
”This is to solicit for the support of the community leaders and sensitise the various groups respectively.
“The monitoring visits were carried out to ensure that actions and steps are followed to facilitate FGM/C abandonment.”
On Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM), she noted that it had organised and conducted sensitisation activities across the Girls Secondary Schools in Enugu Metropolis.
She said that the activities were aimed at raising awareness on the importance of good menstrual hygiene practices among young girls, educating students on basic facts on MHM and its importance to their wellbeing.
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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