A group, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Media Network, has urged the Bauchi State government to boost the role of sanitary inspectors, to promote environmental sanitation and hygiene in the state.
The Chairman of the Network, Mr David Ayodele, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Bauchi,
He said that the spate of indiscriminate dumping of refuse and open defecation is a common act amongst people in both the city and rural areas.
“This is noticeable mostly in uncompleted buildings and plots of land in the cities and across the rural communities,” he said.
He said if sanitary inspectors are made more effective, they will check indiscriminate dumping of refuse and promote proper sanitation and hygiene in the state.
Ayodele noted that the use of sanitary inspectors will improve environmental hygiene in houses and surroundings and make them free from water and airborne diseases.
“Sanitary inspectors usually carry out house-to-house inspection and ensure that environment and houses are equipped with toilet facilities to discourage indiscriminate open defecation,” he added.
The Chairman of the Network further called on the state assembly to introduce proper legislation to ensure prosecution of sanitary law violators.
“The sanitary inspectors should be revived while legal backing should also give them the power to prosecute violators.
Furthermore, he appealed to the government to introduce mobile courts and penalties for open defecation offenders to check the menace.
He highlighted the need for the government to consider the vulnerable and provide public toilet facilities across the state.
Meanwhile, Ayodele urged the government to ensure the provision of portable water in public places for improved hygiene and sanitation.
The Chairman, however, appealed to government to engage private developers to introduce public-friendly public toilets in rural areas with affordable fees,” he said
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