By Muhammad Amaan
Federal Government has promised to curtail the spread of cholera through effective hygiene and sanitation practices in the country.
Minister of State for Environment, Dr Iziaq Salako gave this assurance on Friday at the commemoration of the 2024 National Environmental Sanitation Day (NESD) at Chika community, FCT, Abuja.
“The ongoing Cholera outbreak in the country comes as a stark reminder that when we fail to prioritise proper environmental sanitation, our public health is jeopardised and our economy adversely affected.
“Nigeria is experiencing the adverse impact of climate change as evidenced by the shift in seasons, rising sea levels and more frequent extreme weather events like floods, droughts and heat waves with undeniable health consequences.’’
The minister said that the commemoration of 2024 NESD with the theme “Environmental Sanitation in the Era of Climate Change and the sub-theme “Go Greener, Stay Clean, Climate Change is Real” was apt.
According to him, the combination of climate change and poor sanitation, without doubt, poses a double jeopardy to the health of the planet and all creatures on it.
“Our presence here today is to underscore our agenda to transform Chika into a model community for good environmental sanitation practices that can inspire positive changes in other communities.
“This year’s theme is particularly apt considering the devastating impacts of climate change on our planet and the current resurgence of cholera being experienced in our country as in several other parts of the world,” he said.
Dr Alexander Chimbaru, the Representative of the World Health Organisation, said that the promotion of personal and environmental hygiene in local communities helped to reduce communicable diseases such as cholera.
“An aggressive adoption of environmental hygiene practices and WASH measures in our communities is needed more urgently to prevent the ongoing spread of cholera in the country.
“Climate change is impacting health in a myriad of ways, including by leading to death and illness from increasingly frequent extreme weather events, such as heat waves, storms and floods.
“It is high time as a country to promote actions that both reduce carbon emissions and improve health,” Chimbaru said.
Responding, Chief of Chika community, Istifanus Shegaje, appealed to the minister to help the community with a compartment to enhance proper waste disposal.
He urged residents in the community to imbibe sustainable environment friendly practices, reduce carbon footprint and conserve their natural resources.
“Together, we can make a difference and ensure a safer, greener and healthier lifestyle both for the present and posterity,” he said.
Shegaje also appealed to the FCT administration to help construct concrete drainages and build asphalt roads within the community.
He expressed optimism that by such gesture, the community would enjoy the dividends of democracy and good governance in line with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
