By Mashe Umaru Gwamna
Minister of Environment,Balarabe Lawal, has called for more comprehensive approach to public health .
He said this approach includes proper hygiene practices, safe waste disposal, and effective management of sanitation facilities to protect public health.
Lawal made this known at a ministerial press conference ahead of the 2025 National Environmental Sanitation Day (NESD) commemoration, yesterday in Abuja.
The minister who was represented by Director of Pollution Control and Environmental Health in the ministry,
Dr Bahijjahtu Abubakar,said”we must focus on “safe” sanitation,safe hygienic practices plays a critical role in preventing the spread of diseases, making it a more nuanced and impactful approach.
He noted that poor environmental sanitation is responsible for occurrence of significant percentage of preventable communicable diseases particularly in developing countries including Nigeria.
“ Vector borne diseases such as malaria, Lassa fever and dengue fever are exacerbated by poor environmental sanitation which provide breeding environment for disease vectors like rats and mosquitoes.
He further explained that“Poor sanitation can also lead to contamination of water sources, soil, and air, leading to long-term environmental degradation”.
He commend the states in Nigeria that have reinstated the monthly environmental sanitation (clean-up) exercise, demonstrating their commitment to keeping our environment clean and promoting public health.
He said “this initiative is crucial in preventing sanitation-related diseases and fostering a sense of community responsibility.
“ I urge the states that have not yet reinstated this exercise to do so, working together we can maintain clean environments and protect the health and well-being of our citizens”.
He said his Ministry is committed to improving sanitation and hygiene practices across the country.
“We recognize that safe sanitation and hygiene is not just a matter of public health, but also a critical component of sustainable development”.
The minister explained that “In recent times the federal government through the Federal Ministry of Environment has made several efforts towards the delivery of sanitation and hygiene mandates to the Nigerian citizenry”.
He maintained that the ministry has reviewed and updated the 2005 National Environmental Sanitation Policy and its implementation guidelines to meet the present emerging and re-emerging sanitation challenges.
“ The National Solid Waste Management Policy has been approved by the federal executive council, the National Policy for Antimicrobial Resistance for the Environment Sector has been launched, construction of public toilets across the nation to curb open defecation menace and ongoing awareness creation and sensitization on the dangers of open defecation”.
This year’s theme is tagged : “Safe Sanitation and Hygiene for Disease Prevention”aligns with the National Strategic Plan of Action for Cholera Control (NSPACC) 2024-2029.
This strategic plan is a product of our hard-work evidenced by the years of consultations and multi-sectoral collaboration involving the Federal Ministries of Environment, and other Federal and State Ministries, Departments and Agencies, and other key development partners.
This Strategic Plan reaffirms our collective resolve to eliminate cholera and create a healthier, safer Nigeria
Meanwhile,Representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO ), Dr Edwin Isotu-Edeh said access to safe sanitation is not a privilege.
“it is a fundamental human right, as recognised by World Health Assembly Regulations 64 and 24”,.
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