A seven day programme to mark the 2024 World Environmental Health Day, has been kicked off by the Delta State Environmental Health Officers Association of Nigeria,(EHOAN), Oshimili South Chapter.
The programme which took place at the Oshimili South Local Government, witnessed prayers, dancing round the Local Government Council and visits the chairman’s office, and Heads of Departments.
The theme for this year’s programme is Environmental Health: Creating Resilient Communities Through Disaster Risk Reduction And Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation.
In a remark, the Chairman of the Oshimili South Local Government,Dr.Kelvin Ezenyili said Environmental protection was the responsibility of everybody.
The Chairman represented by the Chairman House committee on Environment, Hon.kelvin Nwabeze, commended the Environmental Health Officers Association for making it a duty every year to celebrate the World Environmental Health Day.
He said Heath of everyone is paramount importance and should be guided against dirty habits in order to live a healthy lifestyle.
Dr.Ezenyili who promised to always work with the Association to move the Local Government forward, adviced the Association to be guided by the rules and regulations of their profession.
He assured that some of their challenges mentioned would be looked into in order to find solutions to the major challenges.
The State Secretary of the Environmental Health Officers Association of Nigeria, Comrade, Sanitarian, Esther Edafienene, revealed that cleaned Environment,positively impacts positive behaviour.
Comrade Edafienene adviced Nigerians to embrace the spirit of cleanliness as it would lead to reducing killer diseases in the society,adding that littering the environment with waste is a serious offense to humanity.
She expressed gratitude to the Chairman for promoting and always advancing the duties of the Oshimili South Local Government Environmental Health Officers Association.
Comrade Edafienene lamented the shortage of Environmental Health Officers in Local Government, stressing that since 2003 there have never been any engagement of Environmental Health Officers in the Local Government.
She also appealed to the Local Government Chairman to look into the lack of operational vehicles and other logistics.
Also speaking, the Head of Department, Environmental Health Officers Association, Oshimili South Local Government,Mr.Eugine Oshilim,urged residents to stop blocking the drains with refuse as it leads to flooding.
He equally advocated for economic tree planting to mitigate climate change impacts.
The Oshimili South Local Government Environmental Supervisor,MrAdim Dikedi, pledged the support of the Oshimili South Local Government Environmental Department in ensuring the best practices of Environmental Health Officers Association.
He Commended the officers for their professional hard work and encouraged them to do more.
In a welcome address, the principal Environmental Health Officer, Comrade, Sanitarian Okolo Ogechukwu, advocated for a stop in open defecation, stressing that using the toilet was best practices in the modern world.
While stressing the need for a stop in bush burning to prevent climate change, Comrade Ogechukwu said sanitation is a human right that must not be violated.
She called on Deltans to drink clean water, to wash their hands always as prevention is better and cheaper than cure.
Highlights was the unveiling of the 2024 World Environmental Health Day by Oshimili South Local Government Chairman represented by the Chairman House committee on Environment,Hon.Kelvin Nwabeze and visits to the Local Government Secretary Chief.Henry Obiora Enebeli and Heads of Departments of Local Government.
