By: Ovedhe Jerry

A non-governmental organization on environmental protection under the auspices of Environmental Protection Promoters Initiative (EPPI) in Isoko South Local Government Council has recently kick-off an awareness campaign on Open Defecation in Isoko South to mark the World Environmental Day Awareness Campaign.

The campaign which was tagged “Stop Open Defecation in Isoko South”, was kick start with a demonstration from Irri Grammar School to all the Primary schools in Irri, down to Isoko Central School, Oleh and end at St. Michael College, Oleh, with placards which has inscription such as, “Nor dey shit anyhow, Nor kill us with ur shit, Prevent toilet diseases, kick diarrhea out of Isoko South, and Landlord provide toilets for your tenants”.

Speaking during the awareness campaign, the Supervising Councilor on Environment, Hon Chief Efe Okolosi stated that, defecating on open spaces and opening dry or fried fishes for flies to perch on them always causes disease to whoever that buy such fish, stressing that, “some of the dry and fried fishes we always buy are contaminated with germs through the flies that perches on them, and this will in turn bring diseases to us that consume them”.

“Always cut your finger nails and wash your hands before you eat, Poor toilet sanitation kill 2700,000 every year, prevent toilet disease, and good sanitation brings dignity”. Okolosi advised the students in the various primary and secondary schools they visited.

He further advised the people of Isoko not live all their responsibility for government to do,  urging private companies and individuals to wake up to their social responsibility of keeping their environment clean just as he urged private companies to always partner with NGOs and be up doing in their social responsibility to help move the nation forward.

While addressing newsmen, the Director of the NGO, Comr. Itimi Sylvester said that, his major aim is to send the message of environmental cleaning to every nooks and crannies of Isoko nation, attributing dirty environment to the major causes of untimely death in the country today.

He urge the people of Isoko South to always keep their environment clean, advising them to always partner with the waste management companies around them to help dispose their waste, just as he urge the State Post Primary Education Board to provide toilets in all Secondary schools across the local government as well as the State government to provide toilets in the various markets across the State to help reduce open defecation.

Others who spoke in the same vein are, Comrade Samuel Akwelenu, Principal Irri Grammar School, Mrs. Stella Eza, Environment Officer in the Local government Council and Hon Samson Idume, Supervising Councilor of Finance for the Local Government. They all applauded EPPI for the awareness campaign urging the people of Isoko South local government Council to always dispose their waste properly and avoid open defecation for healthy living.