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Experts Canvass Establishment Of Environmental Health Trust Fund

 BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja 

 Participants at the just concluded National Environmental Health Business Forum in Abuja

Stakeholders have canvassed the establishment of Environmental Health Trust Fund (EHTF), expected to provide sufficient funds for the development and growth of environmental health sector in Nigeria. 

This formed part of the deliberations at the just concluded 3-day National Environmental Health Business Forum, organised by Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCN) with the theme, "Developing Sustainable Environmental Health Business Model in Support of Nigeria’s Economic Diversification Drive".

Managing Director of Forward Resources Nigeria limited, Dr Shehu Muhammad stated that EHTF when established, would provide funds to support environmental health education, boost research and development, provide loans and grants for innovation and investment in environmental health technology. 

In his presentation titled, 'National Environmental Health Practice Regulations: Panacea for Effective Environmental Health Business', he sought the inclusion of pest control, sanitation and management of camps into EHCNs supervisory role. 

Also, a Professor of Environmental and Public Health at the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), Dr Amadi Nkwa described the initiative as a good development, saying that it would operate in a similar manner like the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND). 

"When established, the trust fund will go a long way to strengthen environmental health business but the question is does the government has the resources to do that?.

He added, "This is because, government has always emphasised on paucity of funds, so who will contribute money for the trust fund", he said.

Nkwa stated that before the establishment of the trust fund, that stakeholders should raise awareness on the importance of environmental health businesses, adding that if Nigerians fail to recognise environmental health as contributing to human development, that the trust fund would not yield the desired result. 

On his part, an Associate Professor of Environmental Health, Gombe State University, Dr Muhammed Adam stated that the establishment of environmental health trust fund is very essential as government alone cannot provide the needed funding to boost environmental health practise but must be done through Public Private Partnership (PPP). 

Also, a Consultant on Environmental Health, Kaduna State, Dr Suleiman Tanko stated that there are more than 30 businesses in environmental health, urging environmental health professionals to leverage on the businesses since there are existing legislations that would provide a conducive environment for the growth of businesses. 

He listed premises inspection, public health management and waste management as three key areas that must be developed to create businesses in environmental health sector. 

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