The Sokoto state government has warned people to desist from illegal fumigation within the state.
This is contained in a statement signed by Muslim Adamu Gobir, a director in the ministry of health on behalf of the commissioner for health and issued to journalists in Sokoto.
According to the statement, ” it should be recalled that His Excellency the Executive Governor of Sokoto State has flagged-off the spraying activity some few weeks back and the state ministry of health is making all the necessary arrangement for the exercise, to ensure safety and efficacy.
“The State Ministry of Health Sokoto observed with dismay that, a group of unknown people were seen carrying out fumigation activities with unknown chemicals in Sokoto metropolis, on the 27th August 2019.
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“In order of confidentiality and health security of the public, the Sokoto State Ministry of Health (SMOH) in collaboration with all healthcare agencies in the State wishes to categorically states that;
“The Ministry of Health and its agencies were not aware with the self-taken decision by those unknown people to make the spray in Sokoto Metropolis.
“Spraying of any chemical of public health importance should be channelled to the Ministry of health through its relevant agency for clarifications and approval. Hence, skilful personnel, procedures, and appropriate chemicals must be in place so as to not endanger the lives of the public.
“The sprayed chemicals in Sokoto metropolis may be hazardous and can lead to poisonous inhalation and consequently becomes toxic among innocent people thereby constituting healthcare burdens as public health menace.
“To safeguard health security of the public henceforth, no person or group of people should carry out any chemical spray of public health importance without the consent of the Ministry of Health through its relevant agency”.
The statement however disclosed that the Ministry of Health in conjunction with Ministry of Environment has constituted a high powered public and environmental health inspectors team to go round and apprehend anybody found carrying out such illegal spray and hand them over to the relevant security agencies for prosecution.
Tribune Online reports that the immediate past Governor of the state and a senator representing Sokoto North senatorial district, Aliyu Wamakko, flagged off the fumigation of his senatorial district.
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