Expert says hygiene way out of reducing disease spread
Chima Azubuike, Gombe
Environmental Health Scientist; Dr. Umar Kwami, has harped the need for clean environment as means of mitigating spread of diseases.
Kwami who is also state environmental health superintendent and waste manager with Gombe State Environmental Sanitation and Protection Agency (GOSEPA), called on residents to ensure regular cleaning to eliminate the chances of sickness.
He made this plea on Saturday, in an interview with journalists shortly after National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), National Environmental Sanitation exercise at Bolari, Gombe State.
Kwami said, “This exercise is very vital because aside from security which is the protection of lives and property. The next is the environment, if we are not healthy, it means our environment is not healthy which can be caused by improper waste disposal, water pollution, climate change.
“We are very delighted, since the inception of the current administration under the leadership of Alh. Inuwa Yahaya, the government is making effort to ensure healthy environment.
“The cleaning of environment will prevent the spread of diseases outbreak such as cholera outbreak, malaria, typhoid, and so on. We really appreciate the corps members for carrying out such a programme in the state particularly the sensitisation.”
He added, “Let us join hands to keep our environment clean through proper sanitization, and waste disposal and by avoiding dumping of refuse in the drainages and waterways, as well as by not building on water ways, sensitization and community mobilization to provide clean environment and proper waste management.”
Also speaking, State Coordinator of NYSC, Ada Imoni, who represented the Director General; Brig. General Shuaibu Ibrahim, stressed the theme of the event ‘Clean environment/ good hygiene: panacea for good health and long life’, adding that to achieve this, every member of the community would get involved.
Ibrahim said, “This will feature sensitization, disease surveillance and report of outbreaks. Indeed, the call to action will promote cooperation and reduce indifference and ignorance.”
He added, “During the Nationwide medical outreaches recently conducted on the platform of NYSC Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers (HIRD), most of the ailments diagnosed and treated were as a result of poor hygiene.”
On his part, District Head of Bolari; Ahmed Bolari, lauded the National Environmental Sanitation exercise which his domain played host to, he prayed that the corps members would complete the task safely.
Bolari who performed the function of cutting the tap which heralded the beginning of the exercise, hailed management of the corps for instilling selfless service in members.
Also, A monitoring officer, NYSC directorate headquarters, John Guli, said he was in Gombe to ensure compliance of the exercise.
Guli who is also an assistant director on Sustainable Development Goals, expressed satisfaction at the level of attendance.
According to him, “We are here to sensitise the community on the importance of hygiene. I’m impressed with the high turn out of corps members and the way they were distributed within the communities with their sensitization and the work they have carried out. The exercise will bring alot of changes in the state.”
A participant, Dr. Stephen Esisere, of the Medical Community Development Service (CDS), said the benefiting communities would enjoy lease of good health which would ensure quality lifestyle.
“The impact of our activities can not be overemphasized. A Nation is as healthy as it environment. If we have a clean environment, majority of the disease condition we see on a regular basis, that people come down with will be avoided.
“It is very important that we do this along side other preventive health measures. We hope that even as we have taken the first step that the host community will learn from what we are doing and in no distant time should replicate this themselves,” he said.
While urging his colleagues not to be tired in well doing, added “everyone is stressed but this is a service to humanity as much as we have the strength to carry us let do our best and provide useful dividends to the communities hosting us.”
