The Kaduna State Government on Friday began a state-wide sensitisation campaign on the health risks of poor environmental hygiene.
Dr Hadiza Balarabe, the Deputy Governor, made this known during a road walk exercise to mark the World Sanitation Day on Friday in Kaduna.
The 28th of June every year was declared National Environmental Sanitation Day by the Federal Government in 2005.
It is a day set aside to create awareness on the essence of proper hygiene practices for the prevention of communicable diseases.
The theme for this year’s commemoration is ‘Environmental sanitation in the era of climate change, Go greener, Stay clean; Climate change is real’.
According to her, the aim is to sensitise the residents on proper environmental sanitation and hygiene practices in the face of the Cholera outbreak in the country.
Balarabe said,’ We all know that unsanitary environment is responsible for diseases, so we are raising awareness to ensure that the environment is devoid of harm arising from poor environment
al hygiene.’
She said it was also necessary to keep the environment safe in the face of climate change, adding, ‘so people can make informed decisions while felling trees and practices that affect the environment.’
Balarabe assured that the state would maintain a clean sanitary environment for a greener state.
Also speaking, Abubakar Buba, Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, said the exercise was to help nurture community responsibility and the importance of a healthy environment in the minds of the residents.
He said that the state would close all community dumpsites while commencing on house-to-house refuse pick-ups.
On sustainability of the sanitation, Buba, assured that the state would be resuming the monthly sanitation exercise for a cleaner environment.
He called on all the residents to ensure that wastes were being packaged properly for evacuation.
Usman Hassan, Chairman, Solid Waste Association, Kaduna chapter, said its members would continue to motivate the residents towards ma
intaining good hygiene.
He assured that the efforts of the scheme to maintain a clean environment would not be compromised.
Source: Voice of Nigeria