UNICEF harps on environmental sanitation for child rights, safety promotion in Nigeria

UNICEF Chief of Water Sanitation and Hygiene in Nigeria, Jane Bevan, has said that the issue of National Environmental Day in Nigeria emphasises the rights of children.

According to her, any organisation that does not capture the safety of children in its programme hampers on the safety of the Nigerian child and thus tampers in their right to quality life.

Bevan said this at the Commemoration of the National Environment Sanitation Day (NESD), which was held in Abuja.

According to her, Climate Change affects children a great deal, noting that the UN report that revealed Nigeria is the second worst African country with the impact of climate change risk on children. She noted that it is important for national stakeholders to evolve policy and programmes that would insulate children from being at risk of the environment.

Speaking further, Bevan explained dangers of using plastics, and careless dumping of refuse as it increases the risk for a safe environment.

“What we have had for a long time in Nigeria was droughts, water table, deforestation, all of these issues, really affect us. 

“And you know what? Children are affected by most of them. So, if you are thinking about child rights, this is a real rights issue for you. 

“I urge you to really work towards improving the environment because it means so much to us, to your futures, and we owe it to our children to really improve the environment. 

“UNICEF recently did a study of the impact of climate risks on children and it found the top 10 worst offenders. If you like, the worst impacted countries were all in Africa and Nigeria comes second worst on that list of children’s impact for climate, so it’s a really serious issue,” sh said.

“I really commend everybody for coming together today to talk about Environmental sanitation. It is a very important issue. We need to all do our best, we can recycle, reuse. Don’t throw away plastics,” she urged stakeholders.

In his keynote address, the permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Environment, Ibrahim Yusuf, said the day underscored the need for sanitation especially with the re-occurring diseases linked to the environment.  

This year’s theme “Promoting sustainable waste management for a healthy environment: stop open dumping” could not be more apt and timely considering the critical role sanitation and hygiene play in preventing and controlling the spread of infectious diseases such as Cholera, Typhoid fever, Lassa Fever, COVID-19 virus, Monkeypox virus etc. 

“The theme is also a clarion call for every one of us to work together and leverage on lessons learned from response to COVID-19 to address the neglect of Sanitation and hygiene as a major means of preventing and controlling transmission of sanitation & hygiene associated infectious diseases.

“Poor sanitation has been identified as being responsible for a significant percentage of preventable communicable diseases particularly in developing countries including Nigeria,” he said.

Speaking further, Yusuf explained how negligence in environmental sanitation can be detrimental to family, society and Nigeria as a nation.

“A large number of children die every year due to sanitation and hygiene enabled diseases. More than 3.5 million children suffer from diarrheal diseases and this is not a small figure. Children, who are less than 5 years old, are more prone to such diseases.

“The advent of emerging and re-emerging diseases such as COVID-19, Lassa Fever, Monkeypox, Cholera etc. in Nigeria has further underscored the fact that access to Sanitation and Hygiene is not only a fundamental human right that safeguards public health and human dignity but also an essential need when it comes to disease prevention. 

“This year’s National Environmental Sanitation Day, therefore calls for individuals, communities, governments at all levels, development partners etc. to be involved in the planning and implementation of sanitation and hygiene activity within their immediate environment, community and the nation at large. 

Representative of the Breakthrough ACTION Nigeria, Meyiwa Ede said in her goodwill message that the National Environmental Sanitation Day presents Nigerians with a valuable opportunity to emphasize the significance of maintaining clean and healthy environments. 

She said that it serves as a reminder that proper sanitation practices are crucial for the well-being of individuals, communities, and the nation at large. 

According to her, at Breakthrough ACTION Nigeria, “we understand environmental sanitation’s vital role in preventing diseases, promoting general well-being and ensuring sustainable development. 

“We are fully committed to advocating for and implementing initiatives that address sanitation challenges and promote responsible waste management practices.” 

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