By Stanley Onyekwere
To help mitigate the outbreak of Lassa fever and other diseases, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) through the Abuja Markets Management Limited (AMML) has commenced fumigation exercise in all its markets in the Territory.
Kicking off the fumigation exercise in Wuse Market at the weekend, the entire market facility, especially the drainages, the informal sector of the market, where food stuffs are sold and stored, and other places, were fumigated, to kill rodents and other insects.
According to the, Corporate Communications of AMML, Mr. Innocent Amaechina, who monitored the exercise, emergency preparedness is part of the routine duty of the market managers.
“I want you to know that at this time of the year, we have always carried out this fumigation exercise. It is just a coincidence that it is happening now when there is a loud cry about sensitization on Lassa fever and coronavirus infections.
“But for us facility management body, emergency preparedness is part of our routine duty. So, just as we prepare for fire, we also prepare for epidemics.
“So, we don’t wait for it to happen before we prepared and we have been doing this at interval, at least minimum of two times every year,” he stated.
Amaechina however revealed that the market managers also use every available opportunity to sensitise the market users, especially the traders, on how to maintain hygiene in the market, adding that the fumigation exercise would be conducted in all its 15 markets in the territory.
Also speaking, Ismaila Haruna Dankogi, of Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), maintained that residents of the FCT have no need to worry about any outbreak of Lassa fever, as the board has always been involve in the routine cleaning markets and other places.
Dankogi therefore advised residents to imbibe the culture of cleanliness, because it is a way of life.
On his part, the Secretary of Wuse Market Traders Association, Alhaji Abubakar Abdullahi Dangara said that the association have been sensitizing its members, especially those in the informal sector of the market on how to wash their table on a daily basis and how to clean the environment, to ensure that whatever they sell is safe for public consumption.
