THE EFFECT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION PROGRAM ON PEOPLE’S LIVES
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
According to the bible, God created man in his own image to be in control of the environment and make the best of it (Gen 1:26-31). But, in his pursuit of daily bread, knowledge, and material wealth, man has polluted the beautiful environment. Man has attempted to control the environment since the dawn of time. However, as previously stated, man owns his health and life.
That is how he escaped the dragon-headed problems he had created for himself in recent times. Environmental sanitation has become a hot topic on the international, national, state, and local levels. The goal is to initiate action to halt the rapidly deteriorating environmental health status around the world.
In Nigeria today, the concentration of industrial establishments, the concentration of people in urban areas, and the share increase in population have made environmental control imperative and equally challenging.
Improving the general environmental sanitation of major towns in Nigeria has always been a major problem for both individuals and governments, resulting in the town/cities being strangled by things generated by the inhabitant. The end result of this condition is environmental pollution in all of its forms.
Pollution issues have also made their way into the political arena, and every community in every state has been confronted with environmental challenges. Man’s concern about pollution is the negative impact it has on people’s health. The problems of poor sanitation and unsanitary behavior among the majority of Nigerians are so serious that the federal military government was forced to intervene in order to achieve the World Health Organization’s goal of “health for all by 2010.” (WHO).
To achieve this goal, the federal government (the military regime in 1984) devised and implemented a number of strategies. As a result, environmental sanitation programs were implemented throughout the federation. This was followed by the formation of a “task force on environmental sanitation” at both the state and local levels to oversee this extensive program.
The Ekiti state chapter was established on March 20, 1984, by then-state military governor SANYA. Captain JOSHUA AYODELE was appointed as the state chairman of the taskforce on environmental sanitation, a position he actively held until the task force was decentralized in October 1988. This sanitation movement was legally supported by edicts for Ekiti state, which was titled edict No 18 of 1984 and went into effect on Monday, April 2nd, 1984.
Environmental sanitation committees were formed at the local government level as well, with members drawn from various walks of life. Individuals, public and private establishments, or corporate bodies who failed to meet the expected government guidelines on environmental sanitation or health habits and practices were subjected to severe sanitation. For example, filthy private premises dumping refuse in unauthorized locations. Urinating or defecating in public places was punishable by a fine ranging from N 100 to 1000, or punishment, depending on the circumstances.
Food hygiene, street trading, and unauthorized vehicle parking were also areas of concern that were incorporated into the WAI “War Against Indiscipline” in order to instill in people correct healthful living habits, attitudes, and practices. Later, incentives were added, and the program became competitive among the various state and local government areas of Nigeria’s federal republic.
This effort was also aimed at associating the country with the cause of the World Health Organization, which declared June 1984 as “World Environmental Sanitation Day,” with the theme “War Against Filthy Environment.” People responded appropriately due to the military nature of the new environmental sanitation program’s implementation, but not without close supervision.
Most of our towns and cities were given a makeover, whether consciously or unconsciously. The motives of the environmental sanitation program are frequently misunderstood to their “statuquo” when they are no longer closely supervised because of their poor health habits and practices.
In fact, despite the various sanctions or stringent measures taken by governments and other health agencies to force a change of attitude among the people, the problem of poor environmental sanitation and unsanitary behavior among the majority of Nigerians has persisted.
It is also worth noting that, while much has been made of the rural population or communities that contribute significantly to the urban population, it stands to reason that an individual’s home orientation would be unconsciously displayed in a new environment. As a result of the neglect of the sanitation crusade at the grassroots level, most of our towns and cities’ sanitation efforts have failed.
EXPLANATION OF THE PROBLEMS
The primary goal of the research is to identify, investigate, and find solutions to the following subproblems.
1. The psychological impact of the program on the people of Ekiti State’s Igbara Odo LGA.
2. The sociological impact of the environmental sanitation program on the people of Igbara Odo LGA.
3. The impact of the program on the economic development of the community.
4. The impact of the Igbara Odo experiment on the physical development of the aforementioned community.
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The study’s goal is to investigate the “MODUS OPERAND” of the Igbara Odo experiment in order to identify our alternative strategy for a long-term solution to our persistent environmental health problems, with the goal of achieving health for all by 2010 AD.
THE STUDY’S IMPORTANCE
The “Igbara Odo experiment” is a one-of-a-kind venture in recent history and in the history of urban environmental sanitation. The study’s findings would thus be beneficial not only to the government, but also to individuals, the general public, and the community. It could assist the government in reviewing previous strategies with the goal of achieving health for all at a low or no significant cost.
The findings and recommendations may inspire health challenges in other rural/urban communities to instill and maintain healthy habits and practices, thereby advancing a long-term solution to the world’s rapid environmental degradation.
To the community, the study could be a source of motivation that could immortalize the initiative of the people, making this health practice part of the people’s culture. The investigation’s findings could also spark further research in the health field, with the goal of creating a more dynamic health culture for the world at large.
QUESTION FOR RESEARCH
1. Does a mass community environmental sanitation program have a significant impact on the community’s economic growth and development?
2. Does mass community action for environmental sanitation have a significant impact on the physical development of the community?
3. Is environmental sanitation achieved through mass community activity/development of local raw materials?
4. Does environmental sanitation through mass community action have a significant impact on people’s psychological development?
TERMS DEFINITION
Certain operational technical terms were unavoidably used in the course of this study to express some viewpoints in the write-up. Those terms, however, have been defined for ease of understanding.
1. Catch them young- The act of involving children of a young age in sanitation activities with the goal of teaching them good/correct health habits, attitudes, and practices.
2. Environmental sanitation-the control of all factors in man’s environment that have or may have a delectable effect on his physical development, health, and survival.
3. Influence- The impact made by something through intangible or invisible means.
4. Mass-community Action-A joint cooperative and coordination venture involving all community members.
5. Mass-Mobilization-involvement of all capable citizens in carrying out a program.
6. Modus-operand-The mode in which an activity was carried out.
7. Pollution- Contamination or unfavorable changes in physical, chemical, or biological conditions in the environment that may have a negative impact on the quality of human life. This includes the effects on other animals, plants, industries, and cultural and aesthetic assets.
8. Population- A group of individuals of the same species living in the same area.
9. Status Quo- The initial state of affairs/habits.
10. Task force- A temporary grouping of units or individuals under one command with the goal of completing a specific mission or solving a specific problem.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is the most important global health organization. It was established in 1942. Following World War II. It is an arm of the United Nations Organization (UNO), and its members are all independent nations.
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THE EFFECT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION PROGRAM ON PEOPLE’S LIVES