Environment
THE Africa Environmental Health Organisation, an NGO, on Wednesday distributed sanitary items and other valuables to Local Education Authority (LEA) Primary School, Dutsen Garki, in the FCT.
The National President of the organisation, Mr Asiodu Afolabi, while commemorating World Environmental Health Day (WEHD) with the students in Abuja, said the day was first officially held on Sept. 26, 2011.
He said that the WEHD was launched by the Council of the International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH).
He said that the aim of the day was to disseminate knowledge about environmental health among people and promote cooperation among the countries to improve the environmental situation of the earth.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the WEHD is annually observed to raise awareness of the detrimental impacts of today`s most pressing environmental concerns on human health.
Afolabi, said during the presentation to Assistant Head Master of the school, Mr John Chun, that the items and the sensitisation were to promote the environmental sanitation in the school.
He said that the theme of the 2022 WEHD was: “Strengthening Environmental Health Systems for the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He said that the aim of the sensitisation was to educate the students on the importance of sanitation and hygiene in the school as well as their various homes.
He also said that the purpose of the exercise was to educate the students on the dangers involved in living in an unhealthy environment.
According to him, we chose today for the celebration of the WEHD even though it is marked every Sept. 26; you can see that today is convenient and the weather is perfect for us.
“We are here to let the pupils know that an unclean environment can pollute the atmosphere, impoverish the people and cause disease in their lives.
“Keeping a good standard hygiene helps to prevent the development and spread of infections, illness and bad odours,’’ he said.
Afolabi urged the authorities in the FCT and other relevant stakeholders to support schools by providing necessary facilities to assist the pupils to acquire better knowledge.
He said that education was key to success and “if we can impact this knowledge in their lives, they would excel as leaders of tomorrow’’.
The Secretary of the NGO, Mrs Adefunke Adeniran, said the purpose of the exercise was to create awareness on basic sanitation practice and solid waste management in the school.
Adeniran said the organisation would extend the exercise to other schools, adding that the essence was to achieve a healthy and safe environment in the FCT.
She advised the students and school authority to ensure that the school environment was kept healthy to avoid spread of diseases and use the items distributed to them judiciously.
She also appealed to the government to allocate funds to improve hygiene and sanitation facilities and services.
Chun, while appreciating the organisation, said that the items would be managed wisely, and called on other meaning Nigerians to emulate the NGO to enhance the lives of the pupils and promote the environment.
He also called on government and well-meaning Nigerians to provide facilities to the schools, adding that most of the school`s equipment needed maintenance and replacement.
“I want the FCT minister to support the school, we have only one toilet constructed by an NGO and the toilet is no longer in good shape.
“The buildings and other facilities are in bad condition, we really need government`s intervention,’’ he said.
Miss Emmanuella Edeh, a primary six student, thanked the organisation for educating them on the importance of good hygiene.
Edeh said that the effort would help them to always keep their environment both in the school and at homes healthy and safe.
NAN reports that the items distributed to the schools include waste bins, packers, brooms, sanitary pads, mops, among others. (NAN)
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Tags: Adefunke Adeniran Africa Environmental Health Organisation Asiodu Afolabi John Chun
