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Monday, October 26, 2009

Communique of National Conference/Scientific Workshop of Environmental Health Officers Association of Nigeria

On 19-23rd October, 2009, the 42nd Annual Conference/Scientific Workshop of Environmental health Officers Association [EHOAN] took place at the IBB Secretariat complex, Damaturu, Yobe state.

The theme of the conference is ‘The Place of Environmental Health Practice in the 7-Point Agenda of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’, and various papers were presented that include the following:

1 Environmental Sanitation: Making everyday counts;

2 Management of Environmental Health Office and its Components;

3 Environmental Sanitation: The Major Component of Malaria Control;

4 Global Economic Meltdown: The Implication in Environmental Health Practice in Nigeria; and

5 Modern Practical approach in Environmental Health.

Then a practical premises inspection was conducted, and group work.

Here is the Communiqué issued at the end of the conference.

Introduction

The 7 point agenda of the Federal Government of Nigeria has become an issue of discourse among the various organs and stakeholders in the country. To this end, EHOAN held her 42nd National conference/scientific workshop in Damaturu, Yobe state between 19-23rd October, 2009 with the theme: ‘THE PALCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PRACTICE IN THE 7-POINT AGENDA OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA’.

The participants were drawn from the 36 states of the federation including Abuja. After brainstorming and extensive discussion on critical issues affecting the profession and the nation at large in the areas of ensuring environment for sustainable development as it relate with the theme of this years conference.

The conference in session seized the opportunity to appreciate the enormous roles played by the Executive Governor of Yobe state, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam, the state Ministries of Environment, Health, Medical and Health Workers Union, the media and local Organizing Committee.

OBSERVATIONS:

Governments have not generally accepted Environmental Sanitation matters as a vote counting matter.

The conference in session noticed with dismay a high degree of poor coordination between Federal Ministry of Environment, States and local council in Environmental health practices.

Absence of modern sanitary equipments and instruments to meet up with emerging challenges in the practice of Environmental health in Nigeria.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

The conference in session hereby recommend that in order to actualize the objectives of the Millenium Development Goals [MDGs] and the 7 point agenda, of the federal government of Nigeria, that government at all levels should see and place environmental sanitation matters as a vote counting factor.

That government should entrench an efficient and effective coordination between the three tiers of government for the purpose of standardization and uniformity.

That in view of the present population of Nigeria, government should embark on immediate employment of trained, registerd and license Environmental Health Officers [EHOs] in order to meet up with the World Health Organization [WHO] standard of an EHO to a population of 8000 persons for the actualization and realization of the laudable goals of the FGN 7-points agenda, UN MDGs, for effective Airports, Seaports and land boarders.

The need Government at all levels to procure basic modern sanitation equipments, detecting, testing, and monitoring and evaluation instruments to enhance the efficient and effective performance of professionals in the field of Environmental Health Practice.

The conference in session calls on the Government to ensure and strengthens cordial relationship with other relevant Governmental and non Governmental Agencies within and outside the Nation for the overall realization of the MDGs and the objectives of the FGN.

Establishment of Public health Laboratories/Environmental Health Laboratories in all the Colleges of Health Technologies, States and federal Capital Territory [FCT].

That environmental Health Departments should be created in all the Local Governments of the Federation where such do not exist for proper coordination and implementation of environmental Sanitation policies and programmes.

Signed by

Sanitarian Zakariya’u Aliyu, National President, and Sanitarian [Omo’ba] Daim, General Secretary