By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The Federal Government has flagged off a campaign to tackle the national wide Cholera outbreak.
The government’s response tagged Campaign on National Environmental Sanitation Response is to curb the disease in Nigeria.
The former Minister of Environment, Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar who flagged off the response activities in Bazango Community Kubwa, Bwari area council, FCT, also announced the Ministry’s commitment to commence the construction of a modern toilet with borehole and solar powered pump in Bazango Community Kubwa, Bwari area council community before the end of the year as part of its efforts to eradicate open defecation and contain the Cholera outbreak.
The Minister represented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mr Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan noted that Cholera remains a global threat to public health and affects both children and adults and could kill if untreated.
He charged all state Governments, Commissioners of Environment, Local Government Chairmen/Councillors and Environmental Health Officers across the country to step up their sanitation, hygiene programmes and activities to control and prevent further outbreaks and spread of cholera in our Country.
Significantly, the government’s Response kicked off in Kubwa, Abuja which is currently the epi-centre in the FCT.
The Minister said the ministry in collaboration with relevant stakeholders including Environmental Health Officer’s (EHO’s) in the states and local Government Areas has commenced the nationwide intervention response activities covering the following areas:
Working with the State and Local Governments to ensure enforcement of relevant Environmental Sanitation Laws, Standards, Regulations and Guidelines in all the communities;
Sanitary inspection of premises/Environmental Health Surveillance of hotspot communities; and training of community volunteers on safe water handling, environmental sanitation and hygiene practices among others.
While assuring federal government’s commitment to maintaining healthy environment, Abubakar urged Nigerians to support the government efforts in curbing the Cholera outbreak.
“I also want to use this opportunity to assure the general public that the Federal Ministry of Environment remains committed to ensuring a clean and healthy environment for all Nigerians. This is a collective responsibility which requires concerted efforts of all and sundry. This is the only way we can prevent and curtail incidences of cholera outbreak and other communicable diseases. I therefore call on all members of the public to keep their environment clean,” he said.
Speaking also, the Chairman Bwari Area Council Dr. John Gabaya appreciated the Minister for remembering people of Baazango Community, saying it was an indication that government has not abandoned them.
“Bwari Area Council is one of the ward also experiencing the disease today. We thought the government has forgotten the Area Council with the challenges being faced in terms of the cholera outbreak but now we are convinced today that we are recognized by the government” he said.
He said the Area Council has taken steps to stop the further spread of the disease beyond the communities already affected.
