By Mashe Umaru Gwamna
The Registrar of the Environmental Health Officers Council of Nigeria (EHCON), Dr. Yakubu Mohammed Baba, has called on Nigerians to place greater emphasis on environmental sanitation, personal hygiene, and other preventive measures to reduce the spread of transmissible diseases.
This was contained in a statement signed and issued by Head, Information and Public Relations Division, Hauwa Bala.
Dr. Baba made the call during an interview in his office, where he discussed issues relating to the health and wellbeing of children and families.
He stressed the importance of preventing diseases before they occur, noting that poor sanitary conditions, unsafe water, and unhygienic environments expose communities, particularly children, to preventable illnesses.
The Registrar urged parents and caregivers to prioritize the health of their children by ensuring appropriate vaccination and seeking timely medical attention whenever children show symptoms of illness.
He emphasized that closing vaccination gaps and ensuring access to basic preventive healthcare are critical to protecting children and reducing the burden of transmissible diseases.
Dr. Baba also called for collective responsibility in maintaining clean and healthy environments.
According to him, communities should ensure proper waste disposal, prevent contamination of water sources, maintain clean surroundings and drainage systems, and observe regular handwashing and other basic hygiene practices.
He cautioned against overcrowding and other environmental practices that could facilitate disease transmission.
The EHCON Registrar reaffirmed the need for sustained public health education and cooperation among government, healthcare professionals, families, and communities in disease prevention.
He urged Nigerians to make environmental cleanliness and personal hygiene part of their daily lives, stressing that effective prevention begins with healthy practices, clean surroundings, timely vaccination, and responsible health-seeking behaviour.
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