“Cleanliness is next to godliness” is a
popular saying. For this caption to be meaningful, the totality of man and his
environment must obey the law of hygiene (Ukpah, 2001). It is the first problem
to be addressed in a community because environmental sanitation and disposal of
refuse have been identified as being of utmost importance. In
recent times, it is observed that the task of maintaining a healthy environment
through sanitary disposal of refuse has become increasingly difficult in West
Africa and most other developing countries.
This is as a result of population
explosion, urbanization, industrialization, increase use of prepared products,
the people’s lifestyle and recreation.(WAHEB 2002). The inadequate refuse
management has its related problems such as filthiness, sporadic fire outbreak,
spread of diseases and distortion of aesthetic value of our environment (Lucas
2003)
Historically, Abakaliki Urban, on
creation of Ebonyi State was best with myriad of environmental problems ranging
from inadequate environmental education and awareness campaign, poor personal
and environmental hygiene, general carefree attitude to the environment and
outright environmental indiscipline.
Infact,
it is on record that the world youth soccer championship slated for Nigeria in
1995 was cancelled because of outbreak of cholera (product of filthy
environment) in Abakaliki. The deplorable environmental condition of Abakaliki
necessitated the setting up of the Ebonyi State Environmental protection Agency
(EBSEPA) on December 6th 1996
barely a month after the appointment of
the pioneer military administrator, Commander Walter Fedghbor for the young state. (Ukpah,
2010).
Proper
municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal helps to prevent breeding of disease
vectors (particularly files and rodents). Direct consequence of the present
sanitation situation is high rate of mortality and morbidity due to sanitation
related diseases. It is estimated that over 200,000 deaths occur annually due
to diarrhea diseases alone with most of the casualties being children (-5
years) (EBSEPA Monograph I, 2001). It is
my candid opinion that the problems of urban solid refuse disposal should be
evaluated.
This will evaluate the municipal refuse disposal management and will help the individual residing in Abakaliki urban, the healthcare workers, the government to improve in their environmental sanitation; in Abakaliki urban.
This will evaluate the municipal refuse disposal management and will help the individual residing in Abakaliki urban, the healthcare workers, the government to improve in their environmental sanitation; in Abakaliki urban.