The deplorable environmental condition of urban towns and cities across Delta and other states has been blamed on the gradual extinction of environmental health practices.
The Chief of Staff to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Prince Johnson Erijo, made the remark when a delegation of the Delta State chapter of the Environmental Health Officers Association of Nigeria (EHOAN), visited him at Government House Asaba.
Hon Erijo recalled that the culture of cleanliness was highly imbibed by residents some decades past when the then sanitary inspectors held sway, noting that the officers commanded so much influence and authority that no one ever dared them, thereby compelling residents to keep their surroundings clean without being reminded to do so.
The Chief of Staff regretted that certain factors, including the overwhelming rate of urbanization, conflict of interest among numerous authorities controlling the environment, shortage of manpower and flagrant disrespect for the law, had drastically reduced the influence and relevance of present-day environmental health officers.
He, however, commended members of the Environmental Health Officers Association of Nigeria in the state for doing their best in the discharge of their duties, even under very difficult working conditions.
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Hon Erijo assured the delegation that the state government would look into the issues raised by the group, especially the gradual extinction of the environmental health profession, and urged the relevant authorities, including the State Ministry of Environment, to seek ways of restoring the lost glory of the profession in the overall interest of public health.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation and State President of EHOAN, Mr. Jeffrey Obadaya, highlighted the main thrust of environmental health practice to include detection of environmental hazards, protection of human life and control of environmental factors, stressing that environmental health was a globally recognized profession.
Mr. Obadaya appealed to the government to save environmental health practice in the state from extinction and assist the group with a bus, funds for the development of its state secretariat and support for the celebration of this year’s World Environmental Health Day.
Photo: Chief of Staff to the Governor of Delta State Hon Prince Johnson Erijo (left) receiving a presentation from the State President, Sanitarian Jeffrey Obadaya (right), of the Environmental Health Officers Association of Nigeria (EHOAN) during a courtesy call in Government House Asaba
