…..Organise Cholera Prevention and Environmental Sanitation Workshop.
The Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria Lagos Chapter, APWENLagos,under the leadership of its Chairman, Engr. Atinuke Wuraola Owolabi, FNSE, in collaboration with WaterAid, on Saturday, August 17 organised a workshop on cholera prevention, environmental sanitation, and waterways cleanup for residents of the Aiyetoro, Makoko community in Lagos state.
This initiative was driven by the Young Engineers of APWENLagos, who are advocates for SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).
Representatives from WaterAid led the workshop, educating the community on the critical importance of maintaining a clean environment. They highlighted that a clean environment, coupled with proper sanitation practices, is crucial in preventing diseases. Emphasizing that sanitation is “every man’s business,” they urged residents to adopt proper waste management practices and avoid disposing of waste into the waterways.
Head of Lagos Programme at WaterAid, Mr. Adebayo Alao, stressed the importance of good hygiene, noting that this initiative is not just a one-time cleanup effort but the beginning of an ongoing sanitation campaign for the residents of Aiyetoro.
He announced that the CDA Chairman would appoint 50 residents as environmental sanitation officers, who would be empowered by WaterAid, through the Yaba LCDA, to enforce proper sanitation practices within the community.
A significant concern raised during the workshop was the lack of toilets in the community, which poses a serious health risk. APWENLagos is appealing to all well-meaning individuals and organizations to support efforts to address this critical issue. WaterAid has also assured its commitment to sponsoring engineering innovative solutions that could significantly improve the lives of the Aiyetoro community.
Past chairman of the Association, Engr. Mary Afolayan, MNSE, also encouraged the residents, noting that while APWENLagos and other voluntary organizations can support the community, the success of maintaining a clean environment ultimately depends on the residents’ commitment.
On her part, Chairman of APWENLagos, Engr. Atinuke Owolabi noted that sustaining a clean community would encourage the association to provide additional support, such as assisting students who have dropped out of school and empowering individuals with skills to improve their living standards. She also mentioned that scholarships would be offered to girls in the community with a passion for STEM, following a series of mentorship programs.
Earlier, the Baale and CDA Chairman of Aiyetoro expressed their gratitude to APWENLagos for initiating this timely and much-needed intervention, stating that they are fully committed to achieving a cleaner community.
The sanitation and waterways cleanup commenced at the Baale’s residence, symbolising the community’s commitment to the initiative.
APWENLagos was given a time frame to revisit the community to assess the progress of the sanitation efforts.
