A health official in Rivers State, Mrs. Ngozi Toby, has condemned the careless vending of food by vendors behind litter points in the name of eking out a living, stressing that such persons actually expose themselves to more health hazard.
Speaking with The Tide recently in Port Harcourt, Toby said that while she appreciated the need for everyone to do everything legitimate to make ends meet, doing so tothe detriment of one’s health was shooting oneself in the foot.
According to her, “I understand that everyone joins hustle to ensure there is food on the table, doing so while putting your health at risk is simply shooting oneself in the foot. At the end of the day, whatever money is realized from such food, such will be ploughed back into taking care of your health.”
She said that food is meant to combat diseases in the body but buying or selling food in a polluted environment rather transmits diseases to the body, adding that the environment should be healthy for one to eat in and that environmental health should not be taken lightly.
In describing environmental health, she adopted the World Health Organization (WHO)’s definition, saying that environmental health consists of preventing or controlling disease, creating an out-door quality air, reducing toxic substances and hazardous waste.
Toby stressed that maintaining a healthy environment is central to increasing quality of life, though, averred that lots of disease particularly respiratory tract infections could be contracted when molecules of the usually waste substances enter the nose, thereby attacking and infecting the central nervous system. She insisted that exposure to even small amounts can be fatal, if neglected or poorly managed, lead to death.

Bethel Toby