Sanitation key to curbing diseases outbreaks, says Commissioner for Environment
By Our Reporter
As part of activities to forestall the outbreak of Lassa Fever in Cross River, the Commissioner for Environment, Mr Mfon Bassey, has called on stakeholders at Watt Market, Etim Edem Motor Park and sachet water companies to brace up sanitation within their business premises.
Bassey, who made the call during a meeting with the stakeholders in his office in Calabar, added that high sanitation standard will avoid the risk of the disease which is ravaging some parts of the country.
He told them that the objective of the meeting was to know how they disposed their waste, adding that waste are habitat for most rodents.
“We want to ensure our residents are safe by guaranteeing sanitation within business premises. It is mandatory for all business premises to own and use a waste bin.
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“As a ministry, we have set out modalities on best ways for waste collection in the markets.
“Aside every premise owning and using waste bin, they must, as a matter of importance, ensure that there have convenience which must always be kept clean in order to reflect the identity for which the state is known for overtime”, he said.
He advised the stakeholders to ensure that drainages within their locations are desilted to allow for free flow of water.
The Commissioner urged them to see the move as conscious step towards restoring cleanliness in the state, thereby calling on traders to always fumigate their business premises to scare away rodents.
He stressed that with the outbreak of Lassa fever across the country, with no recorded case in Crodd River, it was imperative to maintain and sustain the clean and green status.
The Commissioner stated that all business premises must be painted and with an identity as a signage for easy location.
Bassey pledged to donate toilet facilities to Etim Edem Motor Park, with a view to enhance sanitation in the area.
In his remarks, the President, Etim Edem Traders Welfare Association, Mr Umoh Akpan, appealed to the Commissioner to allow motorists to go into the park through Mary Slessor road and out through Goldie so as to ease traffic within the park.
Also speaking, a former President of Etim Edem Traders Association, Mr John Nyut, applauded the Commissioner for the giant strides so far recorded, describing his appointment as well-deserved timely.
According to him, for the aesthetics of the state to be boosted, there was need for painting of shops and premises, suggesting that the state colours of “blue and white” would be appropriate.