FUTO 2013 World Environment Day Welcome Address

WELCOME ADDRESS BY

DR. (MRS.) IHUOMA P. ASIABAKA,

AG. DIRECTOR CENTRE FOR WOMEN,

GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT STUDIES, CWGDS, FUTO,

ON THE OCCASION OF THE 201 3, WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY CELEBRATION IN FUTO, HOLDING ON THURSDAY, 27^TH JUNE, 2013.

PROTOCOLS

I feel highly delighted and honoured to welcome you all to the 2013 World Environment Day Celebration in FUTO. The World Environment Day was first celebrated in FUTO last year. The highlights of the 2012 celebration in FUTO were as follows:

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

ü Grassing of the environment for beautification and erosion control.

ü Tree planting for beautification/aesthetics, erosion control, wind breakers and environmental purification.

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

ü Lectures, demonstrations and exhibitions on environmental issues.

CWGDS has decided to make the celebration of World Environment Day in FUTO an annual event to enable the University Community join the global conversation on environmental issues.

World Environment Day celebration aims at emphasizing the importance of protecting our planet and promoting an understanding that we can individually and collectively play significant roles in tackling environmental issues; especially considering the fact that the environment is intimately connected to global health. According to WHO report, environmental risk factors play vital role in more than 80% of diseases; and about 25% of the death can be attributed to the negative impact of the environment.

Through the celebration of World Environment Day, the United Nations (UN) personalized environmental issues enabling us to realize not only our responsibility, but also our power to become agents of change in support of sustainable and equitable development. The celebration draws attention to environmental challenges such as climate change, global warming, ecosystem management, resource efficiency etc. It also provides the platform on which the political, social, and economic problems of global environments are discussed at an intergovernmental forum with a view to actually taking corrective actions. It is celebrated annually on June 5^th.

This year's Theme "Think-Eat-Save (TES) is chosen to encourage the prevention of food wastage and to raise awareness about the environmental impact of the food choices people make because when food is wasted, natural resources are wasted. TES also aims at reducing food loss along the entire chain of food production and consumption, particularly food wasted by consumers, retailers and hospitality industry.

It is an anti-food waste and food loss campaign that encourages us to re-assess our "food print" (food production). It is estimated that a third of food produced globally is either wasted or lost; and this is an enormous drain on natural resources and a contributor to negative environmental impacts. Global food production occupies a large area of habitable land, consumes about 70% of fresh water, accounts for 80% of deforestation and 30% greenhouse gas emissions thus resulting in loss of biodiversity and land-use change. When food is wasted, all the resources and inputs used in its productions are also lost.

According to United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted annually; and this is equivalent to the same amount of food produced in the whole Sub-Saharan Africa. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) reported that 1 in every 7 people in the world go to bed hungry and more them 20,000 children under the age of 5 die daily from hunger. Thus this enormous imbalance in life styles and the resultant devastating effects on the environment make this year's theme: "Think-Eat-Save" most timely.

It encourages us to become more aware of the environmental impact of the food choices we make and empowers us to make informed decisions about the food we eat so as to reduce the overall ecological impact.

This year we have articulated the following activities for the World Environment Day celebration in FUTO:

ü Sanitary inspection of Schools in FUTO to ascertain the cleanest School.

ü Environmental Sanitation

ü Students' Debate and Drama

ü Lectures

ü Slide Show

ü Prize-giving/Awards

It is hoped that at the end of 2013 World Environmental Day celebration in FUTO we will develop positive ways of protecting the environment through preventing food wastages by:

·        Sharing our excess food

·        Developing preference for local food

·        Using traditional preservation methods

·        Re-cycling of organic food

·        Conversion of organic waste into fertilizer

There is need for collective efforts at reducing food wastage, save money, minimize the environmental impacts of food production and make food production processes more efficient.

May I most sincerely appreciate in a very special way our beloved Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Chigozie C. Asiabaka KSM, JP and the University Management for approving and financially supporting this celebration. I also thank our Keynote speaker Prof. A.I. Ihekoronye for accepting to deliver the Keynote paper in a very short notice. I am grateful to the Deans, Directors, Managing Directors, Heads of Departments, Co-coordinators, the Unions and indeed the University Community for their unending love and support. To the Planning Committee led by Dr. (Mrs.) G.N. Okwu and our beloved students i say thank you for your efforts at ensuring the success of this celebration. Finally I thank all our distinguished guests from within and outside the State for honouring our invitation. Once more, I welcome you all to the 201 3 World Environment Day cerebration in FUTO

Thank you and God bless you.

Dr. Ihuoma P. Asiabaka

Ag. Director, CWGDS, FUTO

2013 FUTO World Environment Day Address

AN ADDRESS BY PROFESSOR CHIGOZIE C. ASIABAKA, ksm, jp,

VICE-CHANCELLOR, FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, OWERRI AT THE 201 3 WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY CELEBRATION IN THE UNIVERSITY ON THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2013

PROTOCOLS

I am delighted to welcome you all to this special event, the 2013 World Environment Day, holding in our University today under the auspices of our Centre for Women, Gender and Development Studies (CWG&DS).

Particularly, I welcome to our campus and acknowledge with profound gratitude the presence of our special guests at today's occasion. These include Barrister Emma Ekweremba, Honourable Commissioner for Petroleum and Environment, Imo State, Professor A. I. Ihekoronye, the Keynote Lecturer, a distinguished academic, an erudite scholar, a colleague and friend of inestimable value and Professor Emeritus of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Mr. A. Ebisike, the Registrar, Environmental Health Officers Registration Council of Nigeria, Abuja.

I recognize also the dignified presence of my Principal Officers, Deans, Directors, Heads of Departments/Units, Coordinators, Executives of Trade Unions on Campus, the President and Executive of Students Union Government, staff and students of our great University. Your unpretentious support, willing and sustained company have been immeasurable sources of inspiration and encouragement to me in my capacity as Chief Host of these unique events. I salute you all.

I thank, commend and congratulate the Director, Centre for Women, Gender and Development Studies, Dr Mrs Ihuoma P. Asiabaka and President, FUTO Women Association and her dedicated and resourceful team for mobilizing the University community to be part of this year's World Environment Day Celebration which commenced in earnest yesterday with sanitation exercise, clearing of the filth and the planting of flowers and ornamental trees within and around the University environment. Your faithful contributions towards the realization of our Quest for Excellence are enormous and most commendable. I urge you to keep up the good work.

Today's event is part of a global annual celebration instituted by the United Nations in 1 972. World Environment Day (WED) was promulgated as a special day to draw deserved attention to and create awareness on the environment which has much to do with the existence and survival of mankind on this planet earth. It is an indisputable fact that man's activities one way or the other affect the environment. The land we till for agriculture, the waste we dispose, the canals we build for irrigation, the drains we construct, the vehicles we drive on the roads, the industries and factories we establish, the petroleum products we exploit, the trees we fell, the animals we rear, the houses we build either for accommodation or for business, the boreholes we drill, the generators that provide us with power, and other innumerable activities of man impact positively or negatively on our cherished environment.

Indeed, the environment affects and influences all aspects of human life, physically, biologically, socially, mentally, spiritually and financially. Changes in the environment have far reaching implications and consequences on mankind, some beneficially and others detrimentally. This is why climate change which is now a global phenomenon is attracting much interest and huge investment from responsible governments across the globe to mitigate and address their unpleasant consequences.

The general impact and adverse effect of climate change on the environment, health, productivity and overall wellbeing of the world population are becoming grievous and unbearable. The problem leads amongst others to staple food shortages, economic decline, displacement and dislocation of human population, large scale migration, health hazards, loss of material resources and above all massive loss of precious lives.

Such vicissitudes of life could result from incidence of flood, draught, desert encroachment, earthquakes, landslides, and other disastrous climatic conditions that could be unleashed on humanity at little or no notice at all. This stark reality has made the theme of the 201 3 World Environment Day Celebration: Think-Eat-Save both apt and germane in our contemporary times. I have no doubt that our Guest Speaker has all it takes to dissect, drill and thrill us on this rather uncommon and unusual theme. Our guest I am sure has enough to dish out to this distinguished audience that at the end we will have more than enough to think about, eat and be able to save, especially for the uncertain rainy days. The lecture promises to advance good tips and create the necessary awareness on the vulnerability of the environment and how to mitigate some natural disasters arising from some environmental or climate change.

Emerging national and global reports precariously indicate that no nation, including ours, is immune or exempted from the devastating effects of changes in environmental conditions. Therefore, as a developing country, our best bet is to increase public awareness and knowledge on how to reduce possible circumstances that can pre-dispose our citizens to severe and disastrous environmental conditions. This is more so against the fact that our mechanism for disaster control/reduction and emergency preparedness appear, to all and intents and purposes, rudimentary in this part of the world.

Ours is a technological University with a school wholly dedicated to studies on environmental issues. It is therefore our due responsibility and mandate to create the needed fora and avenue such as this where important ideas and information could be generated on how best to handle issues that directly or indirectly affect our environment. In practical demonstration of our strategic role as champions on environmental matters, my administration considered it an aberration for the University to continue to operate in an unfriendly, hostile and life threatening environment surrounded by overgrown bushes that habour dangerous animals and reptiles.

This informed the decision of our administration to accord some priority to the creation of healthy environment through deliberate effort in the clearance of overgrown bushes, grassing of the lawns and pathways, opening up of the blocked drains, massive landscaping work on campus, repainting of buildings, planting and regular maintenance of flowers and ornamental trees, installation and improvement of lighting facilities throughout the University campus. All these measures, I am pleased to observe, are impacting wonderfully on our corporate drive for excellence in the University.

On this optimistic note, ladies and gentlemen, it is my honour and privilege to formally declare the 201 3 World Environment Day Celebration in our University open. Thank you and God bless us all.

World Environmental Health Day 2013

The date for World Environmental Health Day was chosen in 2010 by the International Federation of Environmental Health. The first day was commemorated in 2011 in Indonesia.
The theme of 2011 was ‘Air Quality’, 2012, ‘Building for the Future’ and for 2013 is ‘Emerging Environmental Health Risks and Challenges for Tomorrow’.
As an Environmental health practitioner, what do you think are the ‘emerging environmental health risks’ challenging Nigeria vis-à-vis world, and the ‘challenges for tomorrow’?

Global health: Issues, challenges, and management

Being a lead paper presented at the International Conference on 'Global health: issues, challenges and management, organised by Centre for Women, Gender,  and Development Studies; [CWGDS] and Institute of Environmental Health Technology, IEHT, Federal Univeersity of Technology, Owerri

Introduction

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 looksat 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.

Health was first defined in Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization as adopted by the International Health Conference, New York, 19-22 June, 1946; signed on 22 July 1946 by the representatives of 61 States (Official Records of the World Health Organization, no. 2, p. 100) and entered into force on 7 April 1948; as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. While there have been criticisms of this definition, the WHO has not changed its 1946 definition of health. More contentious, however, has been the definition of “global health.”

On the other hand, Public Health can be defined as the combination of sciences, skills, and beliefs that are directed to the maintenance and improvement of health of all people. The classic definition of public health describes it as  “the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting physical health and efficiency through organized community efforts for the sanitation of the environment, the control of community infections, the education of the individual in principles of personal hygiene, the organization of medical and nursing services for the early diagnosis and preventive treatment of disease, and the development of the social machinery which will ensure to every individual in the community a standard of living adequate for the maintenance of health”

Globally, the overall mission of public health is to "fulfil society's interest in assuring conditions in which people can be healthy." The three core public health functions are:

•  assessing and monitoring  the health of communities and populations at risk to identify health problems and priorities;
•  formulating public policies designed to solve identified local and national health problems and priorities;
•  Assuring that all populations have access to appropriate and cost-effective care, including health promotion and disease prevention services, and evaluation of the effectiveness of that care.

Concept of Global Health

According to the Institute of Medicine, "Global health is the goal of improving health for all people in all nations by promoting wellness and eliminating avoidable diseases, disabilities, and deaths. Global health can be attained by combining clinical care at the level of the individual person with population-based measures to promote health and prevent disease. To achieve global health, an understanding of health determinants, practices, and solutions, as well as basic and applied research concerning risk factors, disease, and disability, is very important. Unlike Public Health, Global Health is more encompassing allowing the contributions of many other professionals in health issues and solutions.

Issues

Since 1950, global health has known quite a lot of improvements. However, this progress has not been equally distributed worldwide. A considerable number of countries primarily in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially Nigeria, lag behind the rest of the world on many health indices. 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. Other global issues include man-made and natural disasters (such as landslide; tsunamis; earthquakes; and flooding. The flooding of 2012 in Nigeria affected farming and sustenance of food availability in the nation, and displaced at least 10,000 people; etc.Furthermore terrorism, conflict, gender inequality, poor healthcare financing, emerging and re-emerging diseases, etc are other global health issues confronting Nigeria.

These health indicators continue to have a devastating impact on Nigeria and the world’s poorest countries. They make those countries vulnerable to social instability, economic breakdown, and decrease in population strength, spread of infectious diseases and increase in risk factors for chronic diseases.The vast range of global health issues are not without challenges.

Major Challenges

The biggest challenge in global health 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.

Tackling the world's diseases burden has become a key feature of many nations' foreign policies over the last five years, given that microbes know no borders. The focus of those nations is on keeping life expectancy high. That is another major challenge.For example,overall, 35% of Africa's children are now at higher risk of death than they were 10 years ago. Every hour, more than 500 African mothers lose a child. In 2002, more than four million African children died. Those who do make it past childhood are confronted with adult death rates that exceed those of 30 years ago. Life expectancy, that is always shorter here than almost anywhere else, is reducing still. In some African countries, it has been cut by 20 years and life expectancy for men is now less than 46 years.

A third major challenge is how to keep new health threats from emerging. While positive in many respects, urbanization, globalization, and demographic changes have intensified timeless health issues, changed the dynamics of health and resulted in the emergence of new health threats. Although HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria are treatable and preventable diseases, meanwhile, many rich and poor countries alike have undergone an epidemiological transition in which non-communicable diseases – including depression, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancers – have replaced infectious diseases as the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Out of every 10 deaths worldwide, six are due to non-communicable conditions, three to communicable diseases, reproductive issues, or nutritional conditions, and one to injuries.

With increasing urbanization comes increasing violence and crime. In addition, the effects of depression and social exclusion can be more profound. About 14 per cent of the global burden of disease has been attributed to neuropsychiatric disorders, mostly owing to depression and other common mental disorders, alcohol- and substance-use disorders, and psychoses. The burden of major depression is expected to rise to be the second leading cause of loss of disability-adjusted life years in 2030 and will pose a major urban health challenge.

A fourth major challenge global health is confronted with is the manner in which to improve living conditions. Declining living conditions and reduced access to basic services have led to decreased health status. In Africa today, almost half of the population lacks access to safe water and adequate sanitation services. As immune systems have become weakened, the susceptibility of Africa’s people to infectious diseases has greatly increased. Global health initiatives aimed at improving the health and well-being of impoverished, vulnerable, and underserved people worldwide include poverty reduction strategies, disease prevention measures, efforts to improve nutrition and food security, policy to raise environmental standards and living conditions, and the promotion of gender equality.Health disparity between high-income and low-income countries, as well as between individuals within a country, often make this impossible, leaving many people living in unhealthy settings without sufficient access to care.

Management

For the world to begin to address health issues, three principles of action should be considered:

1.    Conditions of daily life have to be improved --- the conditions in which people are born, grow up, live, work and age;

2.    The inequitable distribution of power, money, and otherresources has to be tackled; the structural drivers of those conditions of daily life globally, nationally, and  locally;

3.    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.

One framework for addressing global health challenges is the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The MDGs were adopted by the Member States of the United Nations in 2000 to achieve demonstrable reductions in poverty and improve specific health and social outcomes by 2015. The outlined goals reach beyond health issues, but four of the eight goals pertain directly to health:

• Goal 1: Poverty Reduction
• Goal 4: Reduce child mortality
• Goal 5: Improve maternal health
• Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases

The MDGs reflect widespread acknowledgement that improving global health is an integral part of development. However, the midpoint between 2000 and 2015 has passed, and the MDGs remain a distant goal for many countries especially Nigeria. For example, an estimated half-million women continue to die as a result of childbirth each year.  While substantial progress has been made in child health, the global community needs to intensify and sustain efforts in other areas in order to meet the MDG targets.

It is important to note that most health problems are caused not by health issues as such, but by social, political and economic conditions that drive people’s lives.

Conclusion

Poverty exacerbates health issues. Under conditions of poverty, entities such as pharmaceutical companies can wield even more power and influence over poor countries. Some major reasons for unnecessary deaths around the world are, therefore, due to human decisions and politics, not just natural outcomes. Well-intentioned companies, organizations and global action show that humanity and compassion still exists, but tackling systematic problems is paramount for effective universal healthcare that all are entitled to.

Addressing health problems goes beyond just medical treatments and policies; it goes to the heart of social, economic and political policies that provide not only for healthier lives, but also for a more productive and meaningful one that can benefit other areas of society.

The Federal Ministry of Health under President Goodluck Jonathan (GCFR) has in the last two years improved the infrastructure of our Health System for improved service delivery across the nation.

The Ministry is also currently involved in disease control and prevention through sustained routine immunization, health promotional activities, Environmental sanitation, safe motherhood.

In this respect the maternal and infant mortality rates are gradually going down, and hope that it will continue to improve.

This transformational agenda of President DrGoodluck Jonathan (GCFR) has also put in place various empowerment programmes to reduce poverty in Nigeria and this will continue until all global health indices are improved.

Institutional Sanitation: problems and prospect

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

31^st 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 19^th 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.