Zero case in cholera due to preparedness, environmental polices — Oyo govt

The Oyo State Government has attributed the zero cases of cholera outbreak in the state to its preparedness in tackling unforeseen epidemic circumstances and its recent environmental reforms and policies.

Oyo State Deputy Governor, Mr. Bayo Lawal, explained how the state improved its environmental sanitation drive, resulting in a cleaner environment throughout the state. He disclosed this during the commemoration of the 2024 National Environmental Sanitation Day, with the theme: “Environmental Sanitation in the Era of Climate Change.”

The National Environmental Sanitation Day is held annually on June 28th to drive awareness of the need to imbibe personal and environmental hygiene among Nigerians. However, Oyo State commemorated the day on Tuesday, July 9, 2024.

Lawal said that the fear that cholera is contagious and has spread to neighboring states led to the success in putting all medical personnel on red alert and ensuring all suspected cases are speedily attended to.

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He said the State Government has, over the years, embarked on several positive and monumental environmental policies, which have improved environmental safety against the impact of climate change across the nooks and crannies of the state.

He reiterated that the administration’s policies on zero tolerance for filth and indiscriminate refuse dumping, as well as the clearing and expansion of river channels across all the geopolitical zones, are significant factors. Lawal appealed for an attitudinal change among residents, urging them to prioritize healthy living against any form of communicable disease, especially cholera.

He charged the public to henceforth desist from dumping refuse in drainages, rivers, road medians, and unauthorized places, promising to consolidate the gains achieved so far. The Deputy Governor, who spoke on behalf of Governor Seyi Makinde, pledged to give the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources all the necessary support to achieve its mandate.

He said everyone should rise to the challenges of climate change, which has not spared any part of the world, calling on residents along river banks in the state to be extremely vigilant. As the Deputy Governor flagged off the symbolic street sweeping exercise at Itesiwaju Market and Agodi car park, Ibadan, he advised the populace to always notify the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of important information on environmental issues.

Likewise, the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Hon. Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola, whose Ministry championed the exercise, led the Environmental Sanitation Sensitization team to Oje Market to continue the state government’s tree planting exercise. Expressing satisfaction with the solidarity towards a clean and healthy environment, Architect Mogbonjubola emphasized the significance of proper environmental sanitation to climate change.

He described a cleaner environment as a responsibility for all, calling on every member of the public, especially landlords and shop owners within the metropolis, to desilt their drainages with absolute compliance. The exercise was attended by the State Head of Service, Mrs. Olubunmi Oni, Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs. Toyin Balogun, among other dignitaries.

Thereafter, environmental sanitation stakeholders converged on the premises of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, where environmental safety experts engaged them on contemporary environmental safety mechanisms.