By Asma’u Ahmad
The members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, have called for the return of sanitary health officers and inspectors to address the problem of poor hygiene and sale of contaminated edibles.
The call was led by the Chairman, House Committee on Health, Mr. Olusegun Olulade, under the ‘Matter of Public Urgency’ during the house plenary.
Mr. Olulade drew the attention of other lawmakers to the recent incident where some residents of a community consumed local salad popularly known as ‘abacha’, believed to have been contaminated by the bacteria causing the disease.
“In order to avert future recurrence, it was time for the state government to begin enlisting the services of health inspection officers from each local government and local council development area.
“Their presence and activity will go a long way in helping to rid our streets and markets of consumable foods that could become injurious to people’s health. The outbreak of the disease with the subsequent loss of six lives is regrettable. Its cause has been attributed to the consumption of contaminated local salad,” he said.
He said there was the need for the state government, through the Ministry of Information and Strategy, to commence immediate sensitisation of residents on the need to maintain good personal and environmental hygiene.
Another lawmaker, Mr. Rotimi Olowo, also said that the return of health inspection officers, popularly known as ‘Wole Wole’ would go a long way in restoring the lost cleanliness in many homes and lives.
In his remark, the Speaker, Mr. Mudashiru Obasa, lauded the state government’s efforts in addressing the outbreak on time by promptly identifying the affected community and adequately quarantining the infected people.
Health Reporters report that the state ministry of health had on September 22, announced the outbreak of cholera in Oshodi/Isolo LGA where about 45 people were diagnosed with the deadly disease, while six people eventually died.
