An environmental health expert, Mrs Veronica Augustine, has called on Nigerians to adopt safely managed sanitation practices to reduce health risks associated with poor hygiene.
ASHENEWS reports that environmental hygiene refers to maintaining and promoting cleanliness and health in the surroundings where people live and work. It involves various measures and actions to prevent the spread of diseases, minimize health risks, and create a safe and healthy environment.
Augustine said in Abuja on Tuesday that poor hygiene practices posed health risks affecting both individuals and communities.
She highlighted the crucial components of safely managed hygiene, including ending open defecation, improved sanitation facilities, safe excreta management, and proper waste disposal.
She stressed the impact on disease prevention, mentioning waterborne diseases like cholera, dysentery, vector-borne diseases, respiratory and soil-transmitted infections, nutritional impacts, child stunting, and maternal health issues.
According to her, inadequate hygiene can lead to social stigma, discrimination, and mental health concerns, elevating the risk of disease outbreaks due to contaminated water and insufficient waste management.
ALSO READ: Rainy season: Niger, Kogi, Nasarawa govts move to forestall flooding
“The significance of addressing hygiene-related health risks lies in the reduction of waterborne diseases and the overall improvement of community well-being.
“Despite the positive impact of safely managed sanitation on public health; challenges include access disparities in urban and rural areas, economic barriers, and cultural and behavioral factors.”
ALSO READ: Addressing scarcity: Balancing innovation, hygiene through sachet water production in Sokoto
Augustine, who is also a deputy director in the Federal Ministry of Health, emphasized the need for a collective effort to create a world where everyone has access to safely managed sanitation, fostering healthier and more sustainable societies.
According to her, Nigeria is currently off-track to meet the SDGs for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) by 2030, calling for increased coordination and the harmonization of existing sanitation laws.
This, she emphasized, would significantly contribute to the successful implementation of hygiene policies in Nigeria.
(NAN)
