BY
ZAKARIYA’U
ALIYU; M.Sc. fseh
Being a Paper Presented on the Occasion of 2012 World
Environment Day Celebration at the International Conference Center,
Federal UNIVERSITY of technology, Owerri
31st July, 2012
BACKGROUND
The rise of the city brought mankind’s first awareness of sanitation. The Romans
built splendid public baths and toilets linked to fairly sophisticated water
and waste delivery system. The ruins of the pre-Roman phonecian city of
kerkouane in today’s Tunisia boast a bathtub in every home. Thereafter, the
level of attention to urban sanitation then went into decline.
In
the nearly two millennia between the remarkable water and sewage systems of the
ancient world and the work of germ theorists and sanitary engineers in modern in
times, there were few advances in urban sanitation. By the mid 19th
century large areas of the great cities of the west that currently fly the flag
of modern civilization and advancement had become filthy, smelly slums. Until
London got its first modern sewer in 1853, inhabitants’ would simply dump their
chamber pots in the streets. For obvious reasons, the idea of using water to
bear away filth caught on quickly. Over the years, wooden troughs were replaced
with terra-cotta piping which in turn gave way to large, more efficient brick
and concrete sewers.
Pre-independence
Nigeria, especially during the early colonial period the urban centers were
countable by the fingers (Lagos, Kano, Ibadan, Sokoto, Benin, Zaria, etc.),
mostly relic capitals of the ancient caliphates and empires of old. Even then
the traditional pit toilets and dumping of refuse at nearby paths were common
sanitation practices these methods were not different but rather most prominent
in the rural settings of the time. Worst still defecation in open spaces and
streams.
Independence,
eliticism and boost in commerce and agriculture and later oil economy gave rise
to wealth and proliferation of urban settlements and services in Nigeria and
later the specific need for institutional sanitation due to increasing number
of institutions. Institutional sanitation became more expedient given the
peculiarities of most institutions and the need for efficiency and
effectiveness insanitation services and diseases prevention. Institutional
Sanitation has today assumed an indispensable aspect of our national sanitation
system in Nigeria.
MEANING OF SANITATION:
Traditionally
Sanitation refers to the provision of facilities and services for the safe
disposal of human urine and feces. It is also explained as the hygiene means of
promoting health through prevention of human contact with hazard of wastes
(physical, microbiological and chemical). It involves the maintenance of
hygienic conditions, through services such as garbage collection and waste
disposal.
However,
the modern application of sanitation includes such other preventive
interventions food, drinking water, building construction etc (thus, food
sanitation, water sanitation, building sanitation etc).
INSTITUTIONAL SANITATION:
An
institution is a complete property and its building, facilities, and services,
having a social, education, or religious purpose. This include schools, colleges or universities,
hospitals, nursing homes, homes for the aged, jails and prison, reformations,
and various types of welfare, mental and detention homes or facilities most
institutions are communities unto themselves. They have certain characteristics
in common that require careful planning, design, construction, operation and
maintenance. In considering institutional sanitation certain important factors
need to given prominence:
1. Site
Selection
-
Sub soil investigation (valley,
wetland, land fill)
-
Location (proximity to sources of noise, air
pollution e.t.c)
2. Water
supply
-
Safe and potable water
-
Water for fire protection
-
Water for other uses e.g. sanitation,
gardening
3. Sewage
disposal
-
Sewers/waste water disposal
-
Excrete Disposal system
-
Drainages/storm water disposal system
4. Solid
waste disposal system
5. Food
preparation and service facilities etc.
For
the purpose of the presentation we are going to consider the sanitation needs
of university only.
UNIVERSITIES:
The
national policy guidelines on school sanitation of 2005 do not have
universities and other tertiary institutions in focus. However, the essential
element of school hygiene and sanitation is captured. For university sanitation
programme the requirements and approach is more complex since it may incorporate
a full spectrum of facilities and services not unlike a community. In addition
to basic facilities such as water supply, swage and other waste water disposal,
plumbing, solid waste management, and air quality, are control of food
preparation and services, housing, clinic or dispensary, swimming pool,
radiation installations and radioisotopes, insect and rodent infestation, and
safety and occupational health in structures, laboratories and works areas
including fire safety, electrical hazards, noise, and hazardous materials. in
view of their complexity and their affect on life and health, universities and
by extension other tertiary institutions should have a professionally trained
environmental health and safety officer and staff responsible for the
enforcement of standards and routine monitoring and inspections of the areas of
concern. In the context of Nigeria universities, an ideal inspection checklist
form shall take cognizance of the following areas of critical sanitation
concern:
1. Water
supply
a.
Quality meets local drinking water
standards
b. Supply
adequate for population (8 gallons per capital per day)
c.
Water system (pipe borne, boreholes
e.t.c) potable and approved
d. Adequate
protection for drinking water
e.
Clean/ storage and distribution system
f.
Routine quality monitoring
2. Sewage
and Toilet facilities
a.
Adequate number of toilets (1.33ration)
b. Wash
hand basins
c.
Bathroom/shower adequate
d. Treatment
meet stream standard
e.
Qualified plumber
f.
Clean, convenient, free from odors, ventilated
and well drained facilities.
3. Solid
waters
a.
Garbage storages and collection
b. Refuge,
collection (sorting)
c.
Disposal method satisfactory
4. Swimming
pool and bathing beach
a.
Life-Saving equipment and life guards
b. Adequate
clarity
c.
Adequate treatment
5. Dietary
a.
Food source approved
b. Dry
storage clean
c.
Food preparation, handling, cooking
proper
d. Food
service temperature and protection satisfactory
e.
Utensil and equipment condition clean
and satisfactory
f.
Hand washing facilities adequate and
convenient
6. Structure and grounds
a.
Locations suitable
b. Buildings
and grounds well drained
c.
Accessible by emergency vehicles
d. Service entrance convenient
e.
Elevators serve all floors
7. Housing and safety
a.
Rooms clean, lighted and ventilated
b. Fire escape from rooms
c.
Adequate space for occupancy
d. Insect
and rodent control effective
e.
Cleans bedding
f.
Fire protection adequate
g.
Radiation safety measure where
applicable
8. Aesthetics and general safety
a.
Clean lawns and structures
b. Weed
control and flower beds
c.
Lighting of corridors and ventilation
d. Control of any danger item or situation.
PROBLEMS
In
discussing the problems of institutional sanitation, it is safer that some
critical aspects that govern the efficacy of sanitation are appraised,
especially in the context of institutional policies, funding and the attitude
of the university community.
University policies:
Some
universities may not have efficient policy guidelines of facilities actions for
effective institutional sanitation. How is sanitation to be managed? What
facilities are to be made available? What scheme should be entrenched etc are
issues that border on policy. The university ought to have clear cut policy and
guidelines on very component of the university sanitation program. For the
purpose of clarity, the following components are most important:
Excreta Disposal:
The practice of open-air defection is ritualized and bound in some traditions.
However, the university community is unique considering the diverse culture and
traditions that make it up. It is therefore important to have a guideline on
excreta disposal. The guideline will spell out the viable methods, the
management/maintenance of the facilities and most cost effective disposal options.
Food Sanitation:
The important of food hygiene cannot be over emphasized. Many diseases can be
spread through poor food hygiene practices. Most catering services in our
universities have been contracted for management by the private sector. Often
times there is no certainty of the source of the food, method of handling,
preparation and even the utensils used in preparation and service of food. A
guideline on university food sanitation program is very important. The caterers
need to be guided on the standards of personal hygiene, cleaning of utensils,
and quality of water for cooking and washing and periodic medical examination
of food handlers. Clandestine sources of
food to the university must be checked and avoided.
Cleaning Services and refuse
collection:
Most
universities as a matter of policy contract cleaning services to companies.
However, most companies are not properly guide with required standards of
operation. Example, the need sorting at the collection point the use of
standard refuses receptacles and standard equipment for operation etc. All
these border on sound policy and guidelines for operation.
Attitude:
All
too often latrines built can be broom cupboards or goat sheds most probably due
to non-use poor maintenance culture. Latrine users for example, that liter the
surrounding or refuse to flush that water carriage (W. C) facility make it
difficult for other to use. The chronic scarcity of water supply in most
institutions make it difficult for availability of water for sanitation
services such as flush water for water carriage (W.C) systems. That should information
the authorities on the need for most viable alternatives to affect sanitation.
Education
and awareness are very important strategies to making institution sanitation
effective. Members of the university community across stake must be made aware
of their role in sanitation, the vision and mission of the university
sanitation program and the actions expected of each one of them. This very
critical to positive attitude to sanitation. Groups societies in the
institutions.
Funding:
Funding
is very critical to effective sanitation program in institutions. For every
policy and program of sanitation in the institutions must as a matter of
priority be adequately funded to achieve the desire result. Perhaps, a budget
line to sustain sanitations is most desirable. Where funding is too limited,
assistance can be sort from donors or partners especially in the provision of infrastructure.
PROSPECTS
With
the advent of a regulatory institution for environment health practice in
Nigeria (EHORECON), matters of sanitation including institutional sanitation
have hope of being streamlined and made more effective.
So
far, cleaning services in most universities is being contracted and the council
has a regulatory framework and enforcement mechanism in place for cleaning
services providers in Nigeria.
Professional
sanitations across the country are also increasingly being motivated take on
private practice in areas of sanitation which include institutional sanitation
for better and more effective sanitation regimes in the country. The future
looks brighter for institutional sanitation than ever.
