Abia State reinstates sanitary inspectors across all local government areas

Abia State is set to revive the sanitary inspection system, reminiscent of the colonial-era “Ndi Ole Ala” in Igboland, which will be reinstated in all local government areas of the state. This move aims to evaluate the environmental conditions in both urban and rural areas.

The State Commissioner for Environment, Philemon Asonye Ogbonna, announced this during a meeting with environmental health officers and key local government officials in Umuahia. He emphasized that the reintroduction of the sanitary inspection system is a step toward providing high-quality health services for Abia residents and preventing disease outbreaks.

Commissioner Ogbonna fondly remembered the pivotal roles played by sanitary inspectors in the past, ensuring that people maintained clean homes and remained free from deadly diseases. He called upon traditional leaders to motivate their subjects to maintain clean surroundings and promised to address various challenges faced by environmental health officers.

In response, the environmental health officers applauded the state government for this significant initiative but raised concerns about several challenges hindering their operations. These challenges include the lack of a cemetery for the burial of unidentified corpses, especially those found in a decomposing state. They also stressed the need for consistent funding to enable them to conduct thorough sanitary inspections throughout the state.

The reinstatement of sanitary inspectors is a promising step toward ensuring a healthier and cleaner environment for the people of Abia State, thus improving the overall quality of life and public health.