Sanitation: NYSC flags off weeklong sensitization in Ebonyi

 

BY VICTOR NWEGEDE

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on Friday officially flagged off a weeklong sensitization on environmental sanitation, health and cleanliness in Ebonyi State.

The NYSC State Coordinator, Mrs Bamai Mercy Dawuda did the flag off at Pa Ngele Oruatu Township Stadium Abakaliki.

Addressing the Corps members, the State Coordinator being represented by the Assistant Director of Skill Acquisition, Mr Adefehinti Olugbenga Justus, said, NYSC embarked on the programme to inform Ebonyi residents the need to keep environmental sanitation and personal hygiene.

  
Mrs Bamai said that NYSC on last month carried out free health services for the rural dwellers and discovered that most of the diseases treated by Corps doctors were related to environmental health issues.

"I am here representing our state Coordinator who is on official assignment at our headquarters in  Abuja. 

"What we are doing now is to create awareness on environmental sanitation, health and cleanliness, because when we had the programme on rural health last month, we discovered that most of the sicknesses treated by the Corps doctors were related to the environmental health issues," she stated. 

Mrs Bamai further said that, NYSC having seen the importance of the environmental sanitation, health and personal hygiene, declared the sensitization a nationwide programme for a period of one week.

She also stated that the Corps members in Ebonyi State would carry out the awareness campaign to all corners of the state.

"So, there's need for our people to keep environmental cleanliness, personal hygiene and that is why we are going round the whole Abakaliki town and all the communities in Ebonyi State to create awareness.

"As this sensitization is going on here, that's how it is going on in every local government area in this state and all the states across the nation including the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, because, it's a national programme.

"We embark on this sensitization to let our people know the cause of environmental hazards, what causes certain sicknesses and how to overcome such ailments by keeping our environments clean and to be maintaining personal hygiene," Bamai added.

NATIONAL PANEL reports that the Corps members walked from Pa Ngele Oruatu Township Stadium Abakalki to Sperando, before proceeded to Margaret Umahi International  Market to sensitize the residents on the need to keep environmental sanitation, health and personal hygiene.

Some of the Corps members while on the awareness campaign, were chatting songs and carrying placards with inscriptions such as "Let's Keep Our Environment

Clean", "Maintain Personal Hygiene and Environmental Sanitation Always," "Environmental Hazard kills - Embrace Cleanliness," and numerous others.