Strategy for a healthy and sustainable environment for the socio-economic development

BY

MOSES O. E. IWUALA

DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY,

SCHOOL OF SCIENCE

FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY OWERRI,

IMO STATE, NIGERIA

Being an invited Paper presented on the occasion of the Celebration of 2012 World Environment Day organized by the Centre for Women, Genger and Development Studies, FUTO Tuesday 31^st July 2012

Protocol

INTRODUCTION

I should start by commending the public-spirited efforts and initiatives of the Center for Women, Gender and Development Studies in Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO). Under the able leadership of Dr. (Mrs.) Ihuoma P. Asiabaka, the Center has done a lot in promoting the training, skill acquisition and socio-economic empowerment for the Women, our children and youths and the University Community generally. In addition the Centre has continued to create awareness on current and contemporary issues of practice interest. A case in point is the bold initiative of organizing the present Celebration of the 2012 World Environment Day in FUTO. In particular, I am grateful for the invitation to present a lead Paper as part of the activities marking this year’s Celebration. Since our ultimate focus globally is that of exploring ways and means of attaining a safe, sanitation and sustainable environment, I am minded to consider this against the background of the socio-economic development of our people. To this end I will be speaking on the “Strategy for a healthy and sustainable Environment for the Socio-economic development of Nigeria”.

NATURE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF OUR ENVIRONMENT

The Environment in which we live and thrive is made up of the Physical Components, the Plants and Animals around us, and the human population etc.   

The Physical (or Abiotic) Environment comprises the land Area, the water bodies, and the aerial (or atmospheric) space around us. the characteristics of the Physical Environment may vary extensively (e.g. in terms of the soil and rock structure, with differential terrains and topography on land) and the differential physical features of natural water bodies (e.g. in terms of water volume, quality and depths/dimension etc.). The same is true of the atmospheric space around us and variations in the quality and wind movement etc.

The plants, Animals and Human populations in our environment, together with the micro-organisms that abound in the Soil, Water and Air around us constitute the biotic Environment. The Plants provide the vegetable cover in the environment and serve as primary sources of food supply to the animals and Man. Plants are therefore cultivated in Agriculture to promote supply of food items and raw materials for manufacturing industries (including food processing, canning, pharmaceutical and textile industries etc.). Other plant resources derive from Natural Forest and Forestry Plantation etc. The animal pollutions in our environment include domestic animals and farm animals (like livestock animals, poultry birds and fishery stocks etc.) as well as the various forms of Wildlife animals available in different environments. There are also the various forms of predators, pest and parasites that play various roles in the ecology of various habitats.

The human population depends on plant and animal populations and on other natural resources from the soil, water and the air for effective sustenance. Nevertheless, the population characteristics in different areas differ substantially (e.g. in terms of population density, demographic composition and socio-economic characteristics etc). Settlement patterns and living conditions of people also differ considerably in different locations, subject to a variety of factors.

The Environment in which we live is also subject to the influence of some natural phenomena like Sunshine, Heat and Temperature changes, Rainfall, Thunderstorms, Wind movements, and other such phenomena, many of which are becoming increasingly more evident in these days of global warming and climate change. In addition, the heavy load of micro-organisms (e.g. Bacteria, Fungi, Viruses etc) play important roles that impact significantly on the lives handy in the maintenance of the economy of nature e.g. through facilitating the decay and decomposition of dead plants and animals and the natural recycling of various forms of organic matter to restore basic elements to the environment.

As part of their day to day activities, and other natural functions, human, animals and plants generate various forms of waste (including excretory wastes and other forms of organic and inorganic products). These wastes invariably contaminate the natural environment and may pollute the soil, water sources and the atmosphere. Human and animal settlements, farm plantations and various other establishments may also be negatively affected by domestic and industrial wastes, toxic chemicals, pesticides, heavy metals, irradiation materials and other forms of environmental pollutants and ecotoxicants.

ATTRIBUTES OF A HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT

  A healthy and sustainable environment is one that is sanitary, safe and supportive of the growth and multiplication of human and animal populations and the luxuriant growth and spread of plants. As a rule, organisms in such an environment have access to good nutriment, healthcare and protection, and are basically exposed to minimal (or at least tolerable) levels of communicable and pathogenic infections. More specifically, the features of such environment include the following:

ü Regular observance of environmental sanitation and hygiene; with adequate provisions for refuse and sewage disposal and avoidance of indiscriminate dumping of wastes and industrial sludge.

ü Provision of adequate housing and shelter for the human population (with limited congestion, adequate ventilation and functional toilet facilities). In addition, suitable facilities are normally available for healthy Animal husbandry and related Agricultural Practices.

ü Availability of clean and adequate Water Supply is also one of the essential attributes of a healthy and sustainable Environment; with proper checks being observed to guarantee the quality of water, consumed and used for other purposes.

ü Ample nutritional supply should also be available for human and animal populations. This underscores the essence of viable Agricultural productivity for enhanced sustenance of any community.

ü A healthy and sustainable Environment must have dependable provisions for effective Healthcare, Disease Control and Disease Prevention. This should applicable not only to the human population but also the animal population, to help minimize chances of zoonotic transmission of infections in the locality.

ü Clean air supply (Indoors and Outdoors) with less chances of atmospheric pollution e.g. from putrid wastes, gas emissions, bush burning, chimney wastes or fossil fuel sustainable environment.

ü Provision for positive nurturing, education and grooming of the human population should also be available, with opportunities for basic education, skill acquisition exposure, entrepreneurship training and other forms of positive development of the human populace.

ü A healthy and sustainable environment must be addition have facilities and potentials for fruitful exploitation of available natural resources, with the proceeds being ploughed back to service the socio-economic and welfare needs of the populace in keeping with the principles and practice of the concept of the green economy.

STRATEGY FOR ATTAINING A HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR NIGERIA,S SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

In The Quest for a Healthy and Sustainable Environment for Nigeria’s Socio-Economic Development Therefore a Strategic Plan of Action is Proposed, Based on the Following Measures:

1.  Maintenance of Sanitation and Healthy surrounding in homes, residential settlements and in public establishments generally. Community hygiene, drainage and desilting of gutters, clearance and safe disposal of refuse, sewage and other forms of wastes must be regularly observed and backed by Sanitary Inspection with appropriate sanctions being enforced, for defaulters.

2.  There should be proper mapping and planning of our Environment, starting from the rural communities to the towns and Urban Centres. As much as possible, functional lay-outs should be provided with clear guidelines in the housing settlements and other forms of private and public shelters.

3.  Bold measure water which should be reticulated to service the needs of the populace potable water which should be reticulated to service the needs of the populace in all sectors (domestic, commercial, agricultural, industrial etc). Also natural water bodies like lakes and rivers must be protected from undue contamination; and where feasible, they should be positively exploited for productive purposes (e.g. in fish farming and irrigation activities, etc).

4.  In the light of our rich natural endowments, steps should be taken to promote agrarian and sustainable Agriculture, taking account of the huge potentials offered by crop farming, cereals and citrus cultivation, livestock farming, poultry farming and fisheries development etc. Added to these should be some positive measures to provide industrial back-up in form of Agro-based industries focusing on food production, food processing and food preservation etc.

5.  For effective and healthy sustenance of  the populace, Healthcare Programmes need to strengthened at all levels, starting from the Community-based Primary Healthcare activities through the level of Secondary Healthcare (involving General hospitals and Clinics) to the Tertiary Healthcare level with properly equipped Teaching Hospitals and others such Specialized referral Centres. Also there should be active promotion of Disease Vector Control, Immunization Programmes and other positive Disease Prevention measures.

6.  The maintenance of a Clean and Healthy Atmosphere should also be pursued vigorously with emphasis on the need for clean fuels and vehicles, and the minimization of gas flaring, bush burning, indiscriminate refuse dumping etc. In addition, public enlightment campaigns should be mounted to promote clean indoor Air through minimizing exposure of women and children to domestic air pollution resulting from household energy use [involving use of kerosene stoves, firewood and coal etc].

7.  For meaningful Socio-economic empowerment of the populace, the curricula for Schools and Colleges will need to be positively reviewed to strengthen elements of Health Science and Hygiene, skill acquisition, entrepreneurial training and the essential tenets of Environmental Protection and Conservation, Bio-diversity and Bio-safety etc. Furthermore target-oriented Manpower development efforts emphasizing on Environment Awareness, Ecology and Resource exploitation need to be stressed for the guidance of the various tiers of Government in the country.

8.  For sake of rapid Socio-economic Development at local, State and National levels, diversified Commercial and Industrial Establishments need to be provided to exploit the country’s vast natural resources, including mineral ores and our plant and animal resources for sake of providing job opportunities and trade options needed for the social and economic emancipation of our people.

CONCLUSION

Altogether it is evident that Nigeria is a country richly endowed in Human, Plant and Animal Resources, plus vast land area and substantial mineral and other resources (including Oil and Gas). These and other assets (actual and potential) can be gainfully explored and exploited to ensure sustainability of this country as a viable nation with assurances of food security, socio-economic, self-reliance and a safe and sanitary environment; provided we strive in the right direction to take necessary steps to minimize environmental contamination and pollution, while promoting a healthy and sustainable environment for our children and for generations yet unborn.

Thank you.

              

keynote address by the Minister of Environment, Mrs. Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafia

ON THE OCCASION OF THE 2012 WORLD ENVIRONMENT

DAY CELEBRATION AT CENTER FOR WOMEN, GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT

STUDENTS, FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, OWERRI, ON TUESDAY, 31^ST JULY, 2012

PROTOCOL

I am honoured to address you on this august and memorable occasion of the commemoration of the 2012 World Environment Day. As you are aware, the World Environment Day, WED, as it is often called, was established by the United Nations General Assembly to mark the start of the UN Conference on the Human Environment held in Stockholm in June 1972. The Stockholm Conference was the first occasion that world leaders met to discuss the political, social and economic problems of the global environment with view to addressing them.

2. The World Environment Day (WED) therefore is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness on the environment and enhances political attention and action. The aim of WED is to: give a human face to environmental issues; empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development; promote an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues; and advocate partnership which will ensure a safer and more prosperous future for all nations and peoples.

3. This year’s World Environment Day celebration had the theme “Green Economy: Does it include you?” Curiously, one of the central themes of this year’s Rio+20 Earth Summit on Sustainable Development held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil was also “Green Economy”. But what is Green Economy? A Green economy is described as one that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. In other words, we can think of a green economy as an economic environment that achieves low carbon emissions, resource efficiency and at the same time socially inclusive.

4. In line with the theme of this year’s World Environment Day, the focus of my Ministry as part of Mr. President transformational agenda is the achievement of sustainable development in Nigeria. Sustainable Development id development that distributes its benefits equitably regenerates the environment rather than destroying it; and empowers people rather than marginalizing them. It is a three prong concept which has the social economic and the environmental aspects.

5. Ladies and gentlemen, you will agree with me that Nigeria is rapidly developing socially and economically with the attendant negative impacts on the environment. These negative impacts are the results of deleterious and unsustainable human activities such as incessant deforestation, greenhouse gas emission, poor consumption patterns, unsustainable mining practices, increased population pressure, indiscriminate dumping of refuse, littering and other poor sanitation practices.

6. There is undoubtedly a strong correlation between sanitation and health problems such as malaria, diarrhea, cholera and high infant and maternal mortality. Women and children are often the major culprit just as they are victims.

7. No doubt the environment needs people and the people need the environment. This therefore behoves on all of us especially the women folk to individually and collectively contribute our quota in the achievement of sustainable development in Nigeria by taking advantage of the many opportunities in the environment sector. I call on women to play a leadership role by promoting environmental ethics, reducing resource use, and reusing and recycling the available resources to minimize waste generation.

  8. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I know that women, especially the indigenous women, have particular knowledge of ecological linkages and fragile ecosystem management. Women in many communities provide the labour force for subsistence production hence, their role is crucial to the provision of food and nutrition; the enhancement of the subsistence and informal sector; and the preservation of the environment. In certain regions, women are generally the most stable members of the community, as men often pursue work in distant locations, leaving the women to safeguard the natural environment and ensure adequate and sustainable resource allocation within the household and the community.

9. The experiences of women and their contributions to ecologically sound environment is therefore central to the achievement of sustainable development for the twenty-first century. Sustainable development will be an elusive goal unless women’s contribution to environment is recognized and supported.

10. distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I want to challenge members of the Federal University of Technology Owerri, and other research institutions in the country to research and come up with cost effective, practicable and indigenous technologies that will provide cleaner energy from waste for households to reduce indoor pollution and health risk; and convert household biodegradable waste into compost for improved agricultural yield. The federal government is amenable to the 3^Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle) principle which promotes the segregation of waste at source into recyclables, organic and hazardous with a view to creating jobs, eradicate poverty and ultimately achieved zero waste.

  11. I am pleased to inform you that my Ministry through the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has developed 24 National Environmental Regulations. These Regulations which have been published in the official gazette of the federal government are for the purposes of inspiring personal and collective responsibility in building an environmentally conscious society for the achievement of sustainable development in Nigeria. I urge you as individuals or groups to visit the NESREA South-East Zonal headquarters office here in Owerri to avail yourselves of these regulations especially the National Environmental (Deforestation control & Drought Mitigation) Regulations of 2011, the National Environmental (Control of Bush/Forest Fire and Open Burning ) Regulations of 2011, the National Environmental (Soil Erosion and Flood Control) Regulation of 2011 and the National Environmental (Sanitation and Wastes Control) Regulations S.I. 28 of 2009.

1. These regulations prohibits spells out sanctions for individuals and grups on the common practices of littering dumping of refuse in illegal dumpsite, open defecation, illegal and indiscriminate tree felling, bush burning, etc. while encouraging sound environmental management through partnerships, collaborations and strategic alliances

13. Ladies and gentlemen, I commend the center for Women, Gender and Development Studies for organizing this event and the efforts in carrying out tree planting, grassing and sanitation within the University Campus. You are indeed vanguards of the environment. I want to implore other members of the University community and environs and indeed all Nigerians to emulate these gestures in order to adequately protect the environment to ensure sustainable development.

Finally, I also commend FUTO for the good job being carried out in the training of Environmental Health Officer in Nigeria and in the ECOWAS sub-region as well as the support for Center for Women, Gender and Development.

15. I wish you a fruitful deliberation and thank you for attention. God bless Nigeria.

  

Welcome Address

WELCOME ADDRESS BY DR. (MRS.) IHUOMA P. ASIABAKA, AG. DIRECTOR CENTRE FOR WOMEN, GENDER & DEVELOPMENT STUDIES FUTO, ON THE OCCASION OF THE 2012 WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY CELEBRATION IN FUTO, HOLDING FROM MONDAY 30^TH – TUESDAY, 31^ST JULY 2012

PROTOCOLS

I feel highly delighted and honoured to welcome you all to the 2012 World Environment Day Celebration in FUTO.

Never before had the environment been so threatened by human activities, hence the need for awareness creation in all nooks and crannies of the world especially in Nigeria on the need for the preservation and protection of the environment.

Man has inadvertently affected the environment negatively through his activities such as pollution, deforestation, bush burning, mining, exploration and exploitation of non-renewable resources, indiscriminate dumping of waste etc.

These anthropogenic activities has degraded the environment resulting in loss of biodiversity, aesthetic values and unsanitary conditions with their attendant health and environmental problems among which are flooding, erosion earthquakes, drought, volcanic eruption, climate change etc.

As in other parts of the Country, environmental sanitation in FUTO has been a great challenge to the University administration. however, the present administration is its quest for excellence has resolved to tackle the poor environmental sanitation in FUTO through awareness creation, beautification, proper waste management and total re-orientation of both staff and students of the University on the need for clean, safe and healthy environment; hence the theme for this year’s World Environment Day celebration in FUTO “Sustainable environment for healthy and socio-economic development of Nigeria”.

As part of this year’s World Environment Day Celebration, we have articulated the following activities:

-      Sanitary inspection of classrooms, student hostels, Laboratories, workshops, cafeteria, toilet facilities and surroundings of all the buildings in the University.

-      Grassing of the environment for beautification and erosion control.

-      Tree planting foe beautification/aesthetic values, economic values, erosion control, wind breakers and environmental purification.

-      General environmental sanitation through grass-cutting, clearing of blocked gutters, sweeping etc.

-      Lectures, demonstrations and exhibitions on environmental issues.

It is hoped that at the end of this occasion, participants will be better equipped and informed on the need for good environmental sanitation. I encourage everybody here to be actively involved in proper environmental management such as tree planting and regular cleaning of their surroundings.

Finally I thank the Vice-Chancellor for this love, support and encouragement in promoting environmental sanitation and beautification, and our partnering/supporting agencies (UNICEF, NESREA, EHORECON, EHOAN, Fed, Min. of Environment, Rotary Int., and PG Students, SOHT) for all your financial and material support.

In conclusion, the Vice-Chancellor and his Management Team may deem it wise to set out a day monthly for environmental sanitation on campus in line with the National Environmental Sanitation (NES) policy, and also award prizes to the staff and students of the best kept/managed School/Department/Unit.

Once more, I welcome you all to the 2012 World Environment Day Celebration in FUTO.

Thank you. 

An address of Prof CC Asiabaka on 2012 World Environment Day

AN ADDRESS PRESENTED BY PROF. CHIGOZIE. C. ASIABAKA Ph. D, KSM, JP, THE VICE-CHANCELLOR, FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY OWERRI;

DURING THE 2012 WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY CELEBRATION IN FUTO ORGANIZATION BY THE CENTRE FOR WOMEN, GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT STUDIES (CWGDS) FUTO ON TUESDAY JULY 31^ST, 2012.

PROTOCOLS

Environmental Health and Sanitation have far reaching effects on the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals especially Goals 6 and 7 that relate to environmental sustainability and control of childhood diseases and mortality.

It is on record that Nigeria just like other developing nations is facing major environmental challenges resulting from poor waste management, water sanitation, management of urban drainage, past and vector control, abattoir sanitation, school sanitation, gross environmental pollution and contamination, plus sundry effects.

Globally, about 25 percent of all deaths and disease burden are attributed to environmental factors may account for than 65 per-cent of the diseases in Nigeria, mostly communicable disease.

The scenario above applies to this community (FUTO). This is the reason why this administration from inception has continued to invest heavily on environmental issues on campus including beautification, landscaping, clearing of bushes, vector control etc.

Improvement in the sanitation and aesthetic feature of our environment will positively impact on the psychological, social, biochemical, and mental and spiritual well been of all members of FUTO. This will obviously improve performance, productivity and Public Health of FUTO community of sustained.

You may recall last week, I presented a paper on; The Quest for Excellence: Taking FUTO to the Next Level. In my lecture, I enumerated all that my administration is doing to ensure excellence and transformation of FUTO. This ceremony is indeed one of significant transformation programmes for the welfare of FUTO community.

I must appreciate the CWGDS for organizing Sanitary Inspection of this community in the past one week, using Professional Environment Health Officers (Sanitary Inspectors) who are our students from the department of Public Health Technology, School of Health Technology, FUTO.

I want to say that this Sanitary Inspection exercise will be regular programme in FUTO to ensure s cleaner and hygienic community.

Finally, I salute the Ag. Director CWGDS, Dr. Mrs. (Mrs.) Ihuoma Asiabaka, my dear wife, for her doggedness in organizing this programme. I challenge other Institutes, Directorates, Centres and Schools to take a cue from this.

At this juncture I declare the Programme Open.

Thank you and God bless you all. 

  

Why are they against Environmental health practice?

By Sani Garba Mohammed

Environmental Health remains at the periphery of sustainable development, because it is inadequately defined, rarely quantified, and institutionally fragmented. Failing to address environmental health amplifies the burden of diseases, which impinges on Sub-Saharan Africa's overall economic performance and wellbeing of the population especially the poor.

---James A Listorti et al

The dearth of Environmental health practitioners better known as Environmental Health Officers [EHO] in Nigeria is a great set back to the healthcare delivery which is making not only primary health care services off target, but equally other health services.

This is because "to a greater extent" said Aniefiok Moses, Journal of Environmental Health June 2006, "the development of environmental health in Nigeria has been retarded due to the dominant influence of the medical profession, which assumed superiority and erroneously annexed everything health into medical practice.....”

This strange marriage existed for so long that it was near impossible to established or convince anyone that Environmental health was a profession. Whereas, World Health Organization has recognized Environmental Health as a profession, it was totally impossible to say so among policy makers in the health sector in Nigeria, more so, even in Britain, where the development of Environmental Health started in 1877, it was not recognized and regarded as profession until 1956. Here in Nigeria it is in 2002 that environmental health was recognized as a profession by act no 11 of 2002.

In a country which has taken enthusiastically to the curative idea of modern medicine, it is difficult to genuinely emphasize the environment as the critical factor in health.

“Can the sanitary landfill or sewers be really as important as specialist hospital? Safety of food in the restaurant for instance, does not appear to get the same attention as the case of a food poisoning admitted to the intensive care unit of the hospital.

Nigeria is caught in a style of thinking largely in favour of generating more support for curative institutions and professionals for the fight against diseases in hospitals rather than prevent them in the environment. But we all know that, the environment exerts more profound effects on all stages of life than do the curative services which are not always promising.

“We all know that” said Dan Rikichi Kajang  “in the nineteenth century the major influences on personal health came when sewers and clean water supplies were established. In particular cholera and typhoid were prevented by sanitary measures, but public opinion and medical opinion were initially hostile to the environmental strategies. Yet these environmental engineering efforts did more for the cholera and typhoid than all the medical practitioners put together”.

The environment is diametrically attached to human health, illness and mortality. Some estimates put that 40% of world deaths are related to environment. Exposure to potentially hazardous agents such as microbes, toxic chemicals and metals, pesticides, and ionizing radiation, account for many form of environmentally related morbidity and mortality.

 But now that the profession is coming of age under the amiable and indefatigable Registar-Augustine Ebesike, and doing everything possible to place it in its appropriate domain in the scheme of national health issues, those feel threatened are fighting back and making sure all available channels are blocked so that the profession stagnate.

These saboteurs and co have been the one rendering the profession irrelevant in health interventions by hijacking most of its area of scope under them, by using all covert and overt means to frustrate its effort of retrieving its lost place in the scheme of health service in the nation.

At primary health care, which is the base of Nigeria health system, where 70% of environmental health services are, it has been downplayed in favour of curative health services. Also from federal ministry of health, National Primary Health Care Development Agency to the state own, environmental health services are given only superficial role, notwithstanding its central role in the delivery of all the other health services.

Because of their stance against proper environmental health practice, Nigeria could not tame its environment so as to reduce disease burden and make the environment safe for sustainable development and for future generation. Also, it is glaring that Nigeria could not likely achieve the Millennium Development Goals in key health areas-[under five mortality, maternal mortality and malaria prevalence] and environment [clean drinking water and sanitation].

It is an open secret that over 70% of Nigeria’s health problems are environmentally related, sadly, in spite of this glaring evidence and conviction that prevention is better than cure, they make sure greater emphasis is still being placed on curative health services, while simple and effective strategies like personal hygiene, food hygiene, and environmental sanitation are relegated to the background.

Those against or feel threaten of full environmental health practice feel that they may be render irrelevant, or the offices they are holding sway may be taken over, or the money they are making could be stop, are doing these for their selfish and pecuniary interest not for the development and progress of the nation health sector.

Globally, environmental health control is accepted as a major health component whether in public health or primary health care. If it is properly organized and implemented, it will improves longer survival, less disability, more efficient personal and social performance, and socio economic development. Why should Nigeria pay lip service to it in favour of costly and unpromising venture?

There is no valid reason[s] to be afraid of environmental health practice, for, the time has come for it recognition as inroad to public health intervention in Nigeria.

Environmental health practice is not a one man work; it is a multi-professional which includes the like of agriculturist, biochemists, disaster preparedness specialist, environmental biologist, toxicologist, environmental health officer, fire safety officers, geographers, hydro geologist, occupational health nurse, occupational health physician, sanitary engineer, etc. Therefore, environmental health must be planted on our national consciousness, discussed at major fora and placed on the national agenda,  this is the only way public health and safety can be guaranteed in this and the next generation.

2013 World Environment Day

The theme of this year is 'Think. Eat. Save'

Think.Eat.Save is an anti-food waste and food loss campaign that encourages you to reduce your foodprint. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), every year 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted. This is equivalent to the same amount produced in the whole of sub-Saharan Africa. At the same time, 1 in every 7 people in the world go to bed hungry and more than 20,000 children under the age of 5 die daily from hunger.
Given this enormous imbalance in lifestyles and the resultant devastating effects on the environment, this year’s theme – Think.Eat.Save – encourages you to become more aware of the environmental impact of the food choices you make and empowers you to make informed decisions. -UNEP

Considering that majority of NIgerian hardly eat 3 times a day, do you think this theme apply us? We do not have much in our house to eat let alone to think and save, so, our government at all levels should know that number one security in any country is 'food security' and gives much importance in mass production of food, so that we can save.

How? government should support all agricultural program to farmers accordingly. For Environmental Health Practitioners, they should try to create awareness on the importance of 'ecological sanitation' on agriculture, the importance of organic manure and the construction of domestic bio-gas digester, which the end products are good for agricultural activities. This will go in boosting production of food without waiting for government by farmers for the supply of fertilizers.

Let us eat what we have. think of how to produce more, and save the excess.

Happy Celebration

FUTO organizes International Conference 20-22nd May, 2013

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“Global health” said Dr [Mrs] Ihuoma P Asiabaka is the health of people in a global context and transcends the perspectives and concerns of individual nations. It is about worldwide improvement of health, reduction of disparities and protection against global threat that disregard national borders.

“Exposure to transnational threat such as climate change, poverty, violence, etc and a feeling of increase & shared responsibility for iniquities present in the world today necessitated a more global approach to improving the health of the world”.

It is based on these that the Centre for Women, Gender and Development Studies, CWGDS, office of the Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, FUTO, in collaboration with Institute of Environmental Health Technology, IEHT, FUTO organizes an International conference on ‘Global Health: Issues, Challenges and Management. The event took place from 20-22^nd May, 2013.

In his address, The Vice Chancellor of FUTO, Prof CC Asiabaka declares “As a university which has school of health technology with a clear mandate to research into health related issues and health technology, our concern is not limited to the production of professionals and specialist in the area of health technology, we are also expected to create fora such as this where relevant information and awareness on health, environmental issues would be examined, thoroughly discussed and implementable solutions proffered for the benefit of mankind and the society at large.

In her opening address to the conference, The Ag Director of CWGDS, Dr [Mrs] Ihuoma P Asiabaka said “Global health problems are as a result of economic, social, environmental, political and health care inequalities and thus require solution from interdisciplinary teams in such areas as health, education, social sciences, science and technology.

“The global health challenges include among other issues, HIV/AIDS, Malaria, emergency and refugee health, non communicable diseases, injuries, etc.

“Thus there is need for collaborative national and trans-national efforts including developing evidence-based policy research and using such evidence-based information constructively in all countries to improve health equity, and also using public health promotion strategies to improve health and underlying social, economic, environmental and political determinants of health”.

The lead paper was presented by Prof Linus Amobi Ilika of community medicine department, Nnamdi Azikwe Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, titled ‘Global health: issues, challenge and management’  and Dr. I. E. Anigbogu of the faculty of Law, Madonna University, Okija, which is ‘Sex, Sexuality and Gender imbalance’.

Prof Linus opined that “Global health has emerged as a growing field, particularly over the past two decades. Greater recognition of the global AIDS crisis, combined with the appearance and rapid international spread of epidemics such as SARS, anthrax, the Ebola virus, swine flu (H1N1), etc., have reinforced that health threats transcend national borders. While much of the media attention has focused on epidemic of infectious diseases, poverty, environmental pollution and degradation, social inequalities, global health looks at a wider scope of health problems, determinants, and solutions, such as chronic illnesses, accidents  and injuries. Other global health challenges include but not limited to poverty, environmental and health emergencies, gender violence and abuse, substance use and abuse, sex and sexuality, infant and maternal mortalities, terrorism etc”.

The Issues are that “For instance, health care systems are still neither available nor accessible (when and if available) to a great many people in Nigeria; infrastructural decay is common in the available health care systems; non-communicable diseases (such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and chronic lung diseases) are still major threats to Nigerians between the ages of 30 and above; hundreds of children under the age of 5 die from malnutrition, diarrhoea, measles, respiratory diseases and mostly preventable diseases, each year. It is on records that millions of people die of infectious diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, pneumonia, diarrhoea, tuberculosis and malaria annually”.

“The biggest challenge in global health” said Prof Linus “is the lack of financial resources to combat the multiple scourges ravaging the world's poor and sick. Today, more funds are needed for pressing heath issues than ever before. Furthermore, funds are needed to support research, build health facilities, train more health personnel, build capacity and competence among health care providers……..”.

On the management he said “For the world to begin to address health issues, three principles of action should be considered, conditions of daily life have to be improved --- the conditions in which people are born, grow up, live, work and age; the inequitable distribution of power, money, and other resources has to be tackled; the structural drivers of those conditions of daily life globally, nationally, and  locally; and problems have to be measured, actions evaluated, knowledge base expanded; a workforce that is trained in the social determinants of health has to be developed, and a public awareness has to be raised about the social determinants of health. He  also added Millennium Development Goals.

Many papers were presented on topical and current contemporary global health issues which include some of th following, safe motherhood, child survival strategies, sex and sexuality, Malaria, substance use and abuse, poverty and health, environmental health in emergencies, etc. The conference was well attended by FUTO principal officers, academia, and participants across the nation, students inclusive.

Aisha Aminu, a participant from Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Katsina has this to say “the papers presented are well packaged and timely, most especially those on gender inequality. Though I was pessimistic on coming; but my coming prove to be worth, and beneficial. I appreciate the organizers of the conference”. For Ugobo Emmanuel, 400 level student of Public Health, university of Calabar he said “ I gained a lot especially those issue on safe motherhood, gender imbalance and others which were touched in the communiqué issued, which are all for the promotion of public health, I am happy”.

Abdullahi Mustapha, from Sa’adatu Rimi college of Education, Kumbotso, Kano who present 2 papers had this to say on the conference “I appreciate the way the conference was organized, many participants across the nation came, we interact, educative papers were discusses and solution proffered”.

For John Kilakime, 500 level, Environmental Health Technology “As an environmental health student, my eye is now to the current global health issues, as there is no one single profession that has exclusive monopoly over how the problems could be solve, all disciplines are important. My interest in the conference is on environmental health in emergencies, for wherever there is an emergency, environmental health issues shall arise, like sanitary condition, water supply, food supplementation, food hygiene, etc., heavy metal resistance in microbes, health care financing & poverty and safe motherhood”.

At the end of the conference, a communiqué was produced which emphasizes among others the importance of safe motherhood, the challenges of drugs and alcohol abuse, established relationship between poverty and ill health, improper waste disposal practice; and recommends among others the need for greater involvement of stakeholders in the promotion of public and environmental health, empowerment of women, address inadequate distribution of health facilities and improved budget allocation to health.