First Lady of Lagos State, Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu

The Lagos State Government has said environmental sanitation will break the cycle of disease and promote the health of members of communities.

The wife of the Governor, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by Mrs Oyindamola Ogunsanwo, said this on Friday during the 2021 sanitation competition among Local Government and Local Council Development Areas, in Alausa, Ikeja.

She said, “Environmental sanitation will ensure the promotion of the health of the community by providing a clean environment and breaking the cycle of disease and this includes the cultural, socio-economic and behavioural patterns of the community which influence the sanitation hygiene status of the state.

“When poor sanitation conditions are poor, diseases and other health-related problems will be prevalent; it has been established by experts that the state of health of a particular location can be linked with the state of the environment of the said location. They are intertwined.”

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tunji Bello, said the ministry had organised interventions at the level of the LGs/LCDAs in a bid to achieve a cleaner and healthier environment.

“It is sad that LG authorities have abdicated their constitutional responsibilities on solid waste management which is one of their basic functions, therefore, we implore all LGAs/LCDAs to have a change of orientation and be alive to their constitutional responsibilities by working towards acquiring the needed capacities,” he said.