By Faridat Salifu
Dr. Iziak Kunle Salako, the Minister of State for the Environment, highlighted the crucial role of sound environmental health and sanitation practices in promoting healthy living during the National One Health Steering Committee meeting held in Abuja.
The minister emphasized that vaccines alone are insufficient to prevent and control emerging and re-emerging diseases.
Poor environmental sanitation has been identified as the leading cause of over 100 waterborne, infectious, and vector-borne diseases. It is essential to prioritize and maintain good environmental practices to ensure a healthy society.
Salako listed various diseases, including malaria, cholera, typhoid fever, infectious hepatitis, poliomyelitis, and numerous diarrheal illnesses, all linked to poor environmental sanitation. These illnesses result in premature mortality, disability, and lost productivity.
He highlighted the significance of the National One Health multisectoral and interdisciplinary approach to health security, aligning with international best practices.
The One Health strategy addresses global health challenges related to zoonotic diseases, antibiotic resistance, food safety, and environmental health.
Salako emphasized the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, stating that the One Health approach contributes to global health security by addressing the full spectrum of disease control from prevention to detection, preparedness, response, and management.
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The minister referred to a WHO research stating that environmental risk factors account for 29% of Nigeria’s national illness burden, with 47 million Nigerians practicing open defecation and 850,000 at risk of mercury poisoning from artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) operations.
The Federal Ministry of Environment has implemented various environmental health and sanitation programs, including the development of a national environmental sanitation policy and the creation of an integrated national environmental health surveillance system (INEHSS).
Other initiatives include the establishment of Sanitation Desks in the ministries of the environment in 36 states, state-level capacity-building and training programs for Sanitation Desk Officers, and national environmental health and sanitation interventions for diseases like cholera and Lassa fever.
Salako highlighted air pollution as a significant environmental risk to human health in 12 states in Nigeria and commended the One Health approach for considering the connection between human, animal, and environmental health.
The minister also mentioned programs such as the Inter-Ministerial Committee on National Environmental Sanitation Programme, Health Care Waste Management Strategies, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Programs, and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Programs.
He called for collaboration to evaluate progress, identify gaps, and advance future initiatives to reduce the risks posed by zoonotic diseases, vector-borne illnesses, climate change, antibiotic resistance, chemical events, and inadequate sanitation and hygiene.
Salako expressed gratitude to stakeholders for their dedication to the Nigeria One Health project and reassured them of the Federal Ministry of Environment’s commitment to cooperation with sister agencies.
He commended the Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare, NCDC, and Development Partners for their leadership and support in the Nigeria One Health project.
