Deploy environmental health officers to end open defecation – EHORECON

Environmental Health Officers Registration Council of Nigeria EHORECON has called for support of all stakeholders in the full deployment of it Officers to urban and rural communities across Nigeria, saying they remain the major solution to the national danger of open defecation.

The Information officer of the Council, Nwagwu Daniel while expressing the concerns of the EHORECON on the increasing number of Nigerians who are into open defecation. Restoring environmental health practice in Nigerian societies will save the country from economic wastage and national embarrassment.

He disclosed that about 47 million Nigerians are into open defecation while about 75 million lack access to good toilet facilities.

“Ending open defecation is a task that must be accomplished. As far back as 80s environmental health practitioners were seen working in rural villages to ensure that people placed high premium on sanitation thereby taking cognizance of their health.

“Engaging the services of environmental health officers who operate based on professional ethics will help to inject respect and professionalism while dealing with the public on sanitation matters.”

Nwagwu added that, this call for urgent and aggressive sanitary exercises at the local communities.

Environmental Health Practitioners who are also known as Public Health Inspectors are saddled with the responsibility of mapping out strategies for protecting public health, which involves administering and enforcing legislation that concern environmental health and providing support that would reduce health and safety hazards.

He restated UNICEF position on the need for Nigeria to end open defecation with deliberate investment in sanitation and special budget for hygiene.

“For Nigeria to become Open Defecation Free (ODF), the government needs to invest more on sanitation and make special budget for hygiene

“This therefore calls for urgent need for government at all levels to declare a state of emergency on environmental health,” Nwagwu added.

The EHORECON information officer further called on the States and the National Assembly members to enact bill that will enhance environmental health, and ensure such laws are enforced.

“All hands must be on desk to ensure that the Executive Order 009 issued by President Buhari to end open defecation by 2025 is implemented

“Traditional leaders, religious leaders, well-meaning Nigerians and the private sector should support government and other actors in environmental health to eradicate open defecation in Nigeria,” he added.