By Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki
The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Major General Shuaibu Ibrahim has assured Nigerians that the scheme would continue to offer health and other services, including environmental protection across the nation.
Major General Shuaibu Ibrahim stated this on Saturday while declaring open the continuation of the NYSC National Environmental Sanitation Exercise at Nkaliki, the headquarters of Abakaliki Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The NYSC DG represented by the State Coordinator, Mrs Mercy Bamai Dawuda thanked the state governments and other stakeholders for identifying with the scheme during the sanitation exercise and described it as a worthy cause nationwide.
He noted that "environmental sanitation has been recognized globally as one of the key requirements for the prevention of diseases and their escalation to epidemic proportions."
on this premise, Major General Ibrahim said that efforts must be stepped up by the corps members to enlighten the general public, especially the rural dwellers, on the health risks of poor hygiene with a particular focus on the prevention of contamination of food, water and the entire environment.
He disclosed that the theme of this programme was "Clean Environment/Good Hygiene: Panacea for Good Health and Long Life."
Speaking on how to achieve this, the NYSC DG said that "every member of the community will have to be mobilized for participation in the exercise, which will feature sensitization, disease surveillance and report of outbreaks."
He observed that the call to action would promote cooperation and reduce indifference and ignorance, given example as seen in the robust response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with awareness, disinfection of the environment - living rooms, toilets public spaces; handling of toxic materials; susceptibility, risky habits, how best to handle bush burning, pollution and waste disposal; and tree planting to support the health ecosystem.
According to him, "it is heart-warming to note that communities that benefited from the NYSC HIRD medical outreaches have been sharing testimonies of the enormous impact of the programme.
"I wish to assure Nigerians that we will not rest on our oars as we continue to offer health and other services, including environmental protection."
He expressed hope about the prospects of the environmental exercise, pointing out that, "with regular sanitation, malaria and other related diseases will be reduced to the barest minimum."
He further appreciated the state governments, traditional rulers, community leaders and other stakeholders for supporting this noble cause, commending the NYSC Staff and Corps members for demonstrating the zeal to contribute toward ensuring a healthy and stable environment.
Major General Ibrahim used the opportunity to appreciate the unrelenting efforts of the Director and Staff of the Community Development Service and Special Projects Department as well as NYSC State Secretariats nationwide to successfully implement this programme, saying that he looks forward to the much-anticipated outcomes of the exercise.
