Environmental Health Officers in Rivers State have cried out over the shortage of manpower in their fold.
Speaking when they paid a solidarity visit to the Government House on Thursday, State President of the association, Mr Ofor Samuel Ukeame appealed to the Governor to employ more personnel, saying that they are only about 20 in the whole state which he described as grossly inadequate for the responsibility they are charged with.
The president said they were in the mood of celebrating World Health Environment Day with the theme: “Environmental Health: Creating Resilient Communities through Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptations.”
He explained that they were aware that the climate is changing and flood has been predicted, adding that they embarked on a Street Walk to intensify the campaign from Mile 1 to Mile 3, with a view to create awareness on what the public must continue to do to stay safe.
He said, “Also, we, the Environmental Health Officers in Rivers State here, have a new Executive that just emerged three weeks ago. So, we have taken this course, and we have the students and officers from the State Ministry of Environment and other parastatals with us too.
“You can see we are not many in number because of the shortage of manpower of Environmental Health Officers. Unlike in the Ministries of Health and Environment, we don’t have upto 15 to 20 staff. What you have here that you see on the streets everyday are volunteers, and it is really like a burden to us.
“So, we are here to also appeal to our able Governor, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, to also look into the shortage of Environmental Health Officers here in Rivers State,” he pleaded.
Responding, State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, harped on the need to revive the cherished work culture of Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) known years ago that made them trusted health coaches on tenable hygienic behaviours in the communities.
The Governor said such commitment aligns with the focus of his administration to improve facilities and services that can be accessed in the Education, Agriculture and Health sectors.
Represented by the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, Governor Fubara said Environmental Health workers contribute to healthy society because before the nineties, they were the frontline professionals who taught residents about hygiene, apart from what was taught in school.
Governor Fubara stated that he was not in doubt of what they could do, if they were so determined to keep to the tradition of hard work, cleanliness and orderliness, which would embolden them to create resilient communities.
He said, “I also bring you good news that His Excellency, the Governor of the State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, is in love and has created a very conducive environment for your professional colleagues and you to do your job with high motivation.
“Before I came here, I was in a meeting with your parent union: Medical and Health Workers’ Union (MHWU), and all we were talking about are things that the Governor had already approved for you.
Read also: Rivers crisis:’ We’re at threshold of victory’, Gov. Fubara declares
“The Governor pays you a very special salary scheme comparable, if not higher than what is paid in other states. I also got the complaint you made here about the government employing more people. I want to tell you that everything that concerns health is on the front burner of His Excellency’s plans this year and even years to come.”
He further said: “His Excellency has said it at different fora that his attention will primarily be on three key areas: health, education and agriculture, and these are general platforms where all of us operate.
“All of us go to school, our children will go to school. All of us live in the environment, we go to hospital, and all of us eat food. We are all living and enjoy these things that the Governor has promised, and has taken steps that are very visible to ensure that healthcare delivery in this State is second to none, and that we can be one of the best in any part of Nigeria.”
Governor Fubara enjoined them to be more dedicated to their work, because, according to him, hard work does not kill, rather it makes one stronger and builds a resilient workforce.
He pointed to when electronic time logging was implemented at the various ministries in the State Secretariat with a lot of people discovered as culpable late comers.
The Governor said: “Don’t be one of those people that do not want to come to work but want to take pay at the end of the month. Be one of those that are shining examples of what the forebears of your profession have left for you, and that is dedication to service.
“I want to thank you, the union leaders, and to say that as you are making demands, also ensure that you are doing your jobs the way it should be.
“The world celebration day is always a day for any profession to recall what is actually their mission. What vision do we have in the State? What are we bringing to the table? What will the employers say they do to justify the huge salary they receive?
“It is time for you to tell your own people that while you are going to make a case for them of what they need to get, you also make a commitment to the government of what you need to offer to the State,” he added.
