BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja
Committed to addressing sanitation gaps, the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) has advanced partnership with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to develop specialised training programmes for Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs).
The essence of the partnership is to deviate from the traditional ‘jack-of-all-trades’ model and produce graduates with specific and marketable skills, while reducing reliance on government jobs and encouraging private sector employment.
This formed the crux of discuss during the maiden Environmental and Public Health Association of Nigeria (EPHAN) stakeholders' talks on Friday in Abuja, targetted at achieving sustainable solutions in environmental and public health space.
The Registrar of EHCON, Dr Yakubu Baba noted that the council had listed sixteen distinct areas of environmental health practice that represents key gaps and needs within the country.
He informed that the training programmes are designed to enable the practitioners to provide essential services to Nigerians.
Baba disclosed that 21 universities currently offer core environmental health courses, supported by over 105 professors and doctors, describing the feat as a strong foundation for capacity building.
The registrar pointed out that the necessary apparatus has been established for the practitioners to address both current and emerging environmental and public health challenges in Nigeria.
While commending the new leadership of EPHAN, he promised that EHCON will continously support the organisation, aimed at strengthening environmental health profession.
According to him, the Renewed Hope Agenda is centred on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and you cannot achieve SDGs 3, 6, and 9 without embracing the One Health concept.
He hinted that the collaboration would boost service delivery in environmental and public health sector, saying that the SDGs align with the council’s mandate to regulate environmental health practices, as provided by the amended Act 11 of 2002.
The SDG 3 places emphasis on good health and well-being through the reduction of noncommunicable diseases, combatting waterborne diseases; as well as lowers death and illness from exposure to hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution.
This is even as SDG 6 guarantees clean water and sanitation through universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water and sanitation.
President of EPHAN, Dr Samuel Akingbehin pleaded with EHPs to unite and support the new administration, just as he pleaded with Nigerians to see the collaboration as a blessing.
He said: "Let’s join hands and support the common man on the street to put Nigeria on a favourable scale among the comity of nations."
Akingbehin stated that the association would serve as a platform for all the professional cadres to work together and strengthen the public health sector.
He maintained that his administration will create a unified platform for all constituent groups, including EHPs, epidemiologists, and water, sanitation, and hygiene specialists.
The president assured that necessary interaction will lead to cohesion and robust synergy, which he described as the goal behind the establishment of EPHAN.
He assured that effective collaboration with public servants, academics, students, and artisans will lead to significant progress in the sector.
Akingbehin pledged that the association will support President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the public health sector, even as he announced the launch of the association’s official website: www.ephan.org.
The partnership between EHCON and EPHAN is expected to improve coordination, promote best practices, and advance sustainable solutions in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
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