Governor Obiano Approves House To House Sanitary Inspection in Anambra

                                          

odogwuemekaodogwu.com reports that as the Anambra State Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) winds down a week long programme which heralds the 2014 Environmental Health week in the state, the Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano has given approval for reintroduction of the house to house sanitary inspection in the state which stopped since 2009 due to shortage of sanitarians in the state.

odogwuemekaodogwu.com reports further that Sanitarian Moses Abadom led Environmental Health Officers (EHO) in the State also appointed Gov. Obiano as the Grand Patron of the Association and investiture as the Ambassador of Clean Environment.
 
The State President of the association, Sanitarian Abadom in an address identified environmental protection and sustainability as key to sustainable development and Millennium Development Goals (MDG).

He however described environmental pollution, Waste management, green house gases, global warming, climate change, desertification, erosion and flood as the major enemies of the environment which, he said, were caused by abuses, neglect and human activities but assured Anambrarians that the Public Health Law reviewed by the State House of Assembly in 2006/2007 are currently addressing these challenges but, however regretted that lack of political will to implement and enforce the National Environmental Sanitation policies and laws has resulted to more serious environmental degradation in the State.

President Abadom, who flanked by Deputy Director, Enviromental Health Services, Mrs Ify Oranye, the association’s secretary and Financial secretary, Mr. Alphonsus Ike and Benard Ikechukwu respectively, equally thanked Gov. Willie Obiano for his quick move towards the realization of  his 4-pillars, which include mechanized agriculture, oil and gas, Commerce and Industry and Industrialisation, identifying environmental sanitation and security as enablers to achieve these four points agenda.
 
He presents EHOs as key personnels in implementing environmental policies.

Said he, “One of the key personnels in the implementation of environmental policies and enforcement of public health law in the state is the Environmental Health Officers (EHO) as these set of professionals has been contributing their quota to environmental protection…”

“And our components include: Waste Management, Medical Management, Excreta and Sewage management, food sanitation, sanitary inspection of premises, market and abattoir sanitation, school sanitation, disposal of the dead of both men and animal among others” .

The association urged the government and well spirited individuals to assist in solving their transportation needs by providing vehicles for field operation and monitoring committee as established by the Environmental Health Officers Registration Council of Nigeria (EHORECON). Other challenges identified by the association included: shortage of manpower, lack of equipment for environmental control and monitoring, politicization of environmental sanitation and management, and absence of waste disposal infrastructure.

While responding, the Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano thanked the association for the award which, he said, will spur him to do more in the area of environmental sanitation.
    Governor who spoke through the Commissioner for Environment, Chief Everistus Uba said the state is poised to reinforce the environmental laws and policies in the state and as well establish special environmental court where erring citizens will be tried and persecuted.

According to Gov. Obiano, “we want to bring back house to house sanitary inspection. We have enthroned sanitary court where environmental cases will be treated and defaulters tried. This court will only handle sanitation cases and anybody caught will be asked to pay fine or do community services of either sweeping the street for one month or similar punishment”.

“The idea” he continued, “is to keep our environment clean so as to attract investors that will improve on the pillar of commerce and industry. Our aim is to change the attitude of our people towards environment” he concludes.

On his part, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joe Akabuike stressed the need for environmental sustainability as enshrined in the MDG-8.

The one week activities of the EHOs in Anambra State featured a novelty match between the NUJ and EHO where the EHO suffered defeat of 2-1. Other programmes include prison visit. The association showered prison inmates with gifts including soaps, disinfectants and toiletries with a lecture on how to keep personal and environmental hygiene delivered by sanitarian Franklyn Nwankwo.

One of the inmates said they were constrained by overcrowding, revealing that more than 50 inmates clamp in a room in Awka prison.

Assistant commandants of Prisons, ACP Arinze Mercy and Ettel Ogbukwelu received the sanitarians.

The association also held 2 days symposium at Emmaus House Awka which feature paper presentations by the Head of Local Government Administration, Nnewi South, Comrade Emmanuel Chukwuma Obiano, Sanitarians Celestine Emodi, and Ebisike Augustine as well as Hon. C.K. Mogbu.

The programme was wind down on Sunday with a Special thanksgiving service held at the church of the Holy Spirit, Paul Univesity Awka and Buffet party cum presentation of awards to the Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, Commissioner for Environment and Local Government, Hon Evaristus Uba and Barr. Azuka Enemuo, respectively.

The Board member, EHORECON, Abuja, Chief Tony Ezekwesili was also honoured as patron of the association.

In their separate speeches, the State Secretary of the association, Sanitarian Ikeh Alphonsus and Chairman Organizing Committee, Barr. Ezeibe Kingsley commended this year’s programmes and thanked God for the successful outing.