OJUKWU URGES ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OFFICERS TO BROADEN FOCUS BEYOND PHYSICAL PLANNING
By Bonaventure Alufo
The Anambra State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Barr. Chijioke Ojukwu, has urged members of the Environmental Health Officers Association of Nigeria (EHOAN), Anambra State Chapter, to broaden the scope of their responsibilities by paying greater attention to food safety, abattoir sanitation and other critical public health concerns.
Barr. Ojukwu made the call on June 25, when he received a delegation of the association, led by its State Chairman, Mr. Ikechukwu Obasoanya, at the ministry’s headquarters in Awka.
During the meeting, the EHOAN delegation expressed concerns over what they described as the inadequate involvement of environmental health officers in building construction activities and other statutory responsibilities, highlighting the shortage of personnel across the state, noting that Idemili North Local Government Area(LGA) currently has only three environmental health officers, a situation they said is hampering effective service delivery.
Responding, the commissioner reminded the officers that their mandate extends far beyond monitoring physical planning compliance, stressing that environmental health plays a much broader role in safeguarding public health.
According to him, public health comprises several operational areas, yet much of the association’s attention appears to be concentrated on physical planning issues while critical aspects such as food production, food handling and sanitation receive little attention.
He expressed concern over the poor sanitary conditions in many slaughterhouses, restaurants, fast-food outlets and other food preparation facilities, warning that inadequate monitoring of such establishments poses a greater threat to public health.
“Those involved in the production and handling of consumables have a greater capacity to endanger lives if proper sanitary standards are ignored. Unfortunately, many slaughterhouses operate in unhygienic conditions, while the kitchens of restaurants and fast-food outlets often escape adequate inspection. These are areas that deserve greater attention from environmental health officers,” Ojukwu said.
The commissioner clarified that environmental health officers do not possess the legal authority to seal construction sites, explaining that their statutory responsibility is to ensure compliance with environmental health standards, including adequate ventilation and sanitation, while enforcement actions must be carried out within the limits prescribed by law.
He encouraged the association to redirect more of its efforts toward protecting public health through regular inspections of food processing centres, markets, eateries and abattoirs, describing such interventions as essential to preventing disease outbreaks and ensuring safer communities.
Barr. Ojukwu assured the association of the ministry’s readiness to collaborate with environmental health officers in promoting healthier environments and improving public health outcomes across Anambra State.
He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to strengthening inter-agency cooperation to ensure that environmental standards are effectively enforced for the benefit of residents.
Bonaventure Alufo is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State