The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Taraba has called on the state government to support the national sanitation embarked upon by the corps to tackle flooding and other environmental challenges in the state.
Mr Anthony Nzoka, the State Coordinator of the NYSC, made the call at the inauguration of the 2021 NYSC national sanitation with the theme: “Clean Environment/Good Hygiene: Penacea for Good Health and Long Life” on Saturday, July 24, 2021 in Jalingo, the state capital.
Nzoka noted that a clean environment was key in the prevention of environmental diseases across the state.
“I want to call on the state government, traditional rulers and community leaders to join hands with the NYSC in this exercise.
“This will help to prevent diseases and flooding in the state.
“Jalingo is on a plain land and if we don’t prioritise environmental sanitation, we will continue to witness serious flooding, worse than what we had recently.
“It is unfortunate that we embarked on this exercise without a single functional waste disposal truck and we have to hire small trucks to help dispose the waste.
“Government agencies, private organisations and individuals should take up the challenge in this regard by supporting the corps with tools to succeed,“ he said.
Earlier, the Director-General of NYSC , Brig-Gen. Shuibu Ibrahim, said that the exercise was as result of the recent nationwide medical outreach by the NYSC Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers.
Ibrahim said that it was during the programme that it was discovered that most of the ailments affecting the people were as a result of poor hygiene.
Ibrahim assured the residents of the state that the scheme would continue to offer health and other services, including environmental protection for the good of humanity.
The address was read by the State Coordinator of the NYSC.
Also, Alhaji Abdulnaseer Boboji, the Chairman of Jalingo Local Government Council, pledged the support of the Council to NYSC activities and programmes.
Boboji, represented by Alhaji Umar Usman, the leader of Jalingo Legislative House, appealed to the NYSC to sustain the exercise.
He called on community and religious leaders in the councils to join the corps members in the exercise.
The corps members led by the State Coordinator removed blockages from drainage systems and swept major streets in the state.
In neighbouring Adamawa, the NYSC on Saturday flagged off a National Environmental Sanitation exercise in the state, urging residents to embrace it for good hygiene and better health.
Speaking during the exercise in Yola, the state capital, Alhaji Ibrahim Tukur, NYSC Adamawa Coordinator, said that environmental sanitation had been recognised globally as one of the key requirements for prevention of diseases and their escalation to epidemic proportion.
The state’s NYSC Coordinator, represented by Assistant Director in charge of Corps Deployment and Relocation, Mr Manzo Tal, charged the residents to ensure regular sanitation to promote good hygiene.
According to him, most of the ailments diagnosed and treated during the recent medical outreach for rural dwellers are as a result of poor hygiene.
“Therefore, efforts must be made to save many more lives by empowering the people with adequate information on good grooming and environmental hygiene,” he said.
Alhaji Shuaibu Audu, Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources Development, Adamawa State, commended NYSC for the exercise and urged the relevant stakeholders to contribute their own part.
Audu, who was represented by Mr Eskwaya Danfulani, Director, Environmental Health and Sanitation, said that the exercise would reduce a lot of communicable diseases and promote good hygiene.
In his remarks, the District Head of Jimeta metropolitan, Baba Paris, also appreciated the effort of the NYSC Corps members in the state and country at large.
Paris, who was represented by Umaru Furo, Village Head of Alkalawa/Ajiya, urged the community to support and cooperate with the corps members for the success of the exercise.
He also tasked his subjects to ensure regular sanitation of their houses, streets and to ensure proper waste disposal at all the time for good hygiene.
The clean-up was carried out at the Jimeta Modern Market and some streets of Ajiya ward in Jimeta metropolitan.
Corps members were seen sweeping, clearing and cleaning the environment with brooms, rakes, shovels, wheelbarrows and containers as well as clearing drainage systems to ease flow of water.
By Gabriel Yough and Ibrahim Kado
