Environmental Health Officers Seek Government Support to Combat Cholera and Pollution

… As Federal Ministry of Environment pledges collaboration 

Oru Leonard 

Honorable Minister of State, Environment, Dr. Ishaq Salako acknowledged has the crucial role of Environmental Health Officers in maintaining a healthy environment and pledged the willingness of the Ministry to collaborate with the Environmental Health Officers Association (EHOAN), FCT for an enhanced environment.

Hon. Salako stated this During the 2024 National Environmental Sanitation Day commemoration by EHOAN

He said. “The Federal Ministry of Environment and its Ministers are with you. We will do everything possible to ensure you have the leverage, support, and authority to perform your roles. Until we have good sanitation in our environment, we will continue to grapple with diseases like cholera.”

The Minister, who had earlier spoken on television about the challenges of pollution and waste control assured that he would work with EHOAN Officers to present their case and support their duties. He fondly recalled the respect and authority Environmental Health Officers commanded in the past, adding that, “For those of us born in the sixties, Environmental Health Officers were like lords.”

Earlier, EHOAN FCT, Abuja President, while expressing gratitude to the Minister for the opportunity to speak, highlighted the challenges faced by Environmental Health Officers. “We are borrowed members, and the government has refused to employ us. We are ready to do our job and do it properly. We want an end to sharp, unethical practices. We cannot do the job of a Doctor, and a Doctor cannot do our job. We need employment and support to perform our duties effectively”, He said.

The theme of the event was, “Go Green, Stay Clean! Climate Change is Real.”