By Stanley Onyekwere
To ensure strict adherence to proper waste management practices, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has disclosed plans to look into the medical waste management practices in all hospital facilities across Abuja, the nation’s capital city.
Dropping this hint, the Secretary FCTA’s Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, noted that there is strong nexus between health and environment, which is the purview of her office, and stated that JICA’s work in waste management cannot be overemphasized.
Fasawe spoke during a meeting with Japan International Cooperation Agency(JICA), recently in Abuja.
She reiterated that the present Administration has taken a sector wide approach towards donor investment in the health sub-sector and has since carried out its needs assessment to fill in the gaps.
She added the need for training of health and environment staff on proper waste management practices.
According to her, the success of the Administration in the achievement of its mandate of improved health care delivery for the FCT residents is in the area of increased intake into the FCT Health Insurance Scheme with programmes specifically targeting coverage of pregnant women and people living with the Human Immune Virus (HIV) in the Territory.
Furthermore, the Secretary opined the importance of support from JICA not only in the area of environmental development and waste management but also in the health sector, while highlighting the need for advocacy in recycling and waste to wealth practices; noting that improper waste management poses environmental problems like global warming.
Also speaking, the Chief representative of JICA Nigeria, Yuzurio Suzumu, said the agency is no stranger to the FCT as it has been working with the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEBP) to develop a master plan for proper waste management in the FCT.
Suzumu revealed that JICA receives 60 to 70 trainees annually in the University of Japan, in a bid to foster relationship between both countries.
According to him, the agency’s interest in collaborating with the Secretariat, especially in the area of human resource development.
He stated that JICA is working with the FCT Water Board on a possible collaboration in water management.
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