Muhammad Garba
Jigawa State Government has unveiled plans to revive a house-to-house health inspection initiative originally implemented in the 1970s, aimed at enforcing personal and environmental hygiene standards.
The move is part of broader efforts to combat preventable diseases and sustain the state’s Open Defecation Free (ODF) certification.
This was announced by the State Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Nura Ibrahim Kazaure, during the opening ceremony of a two-day orientation workshop for 270 environmental health officers, held at Ahmadu Bello Hall, Dutse.
The workshop, organized by the Jigawa State Environmental Protection Agency (JISEPA) with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), was designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills needed to carry out their responsibilities effectively.
Dr. Kazaure stressed the importance of reinstating the door-to-door inspections, noting that the initiative is key to reducing child and maternal mortality, improving public health outcomes, and lowering hospital admissions through enhanced hygiene practices.
“The inspections will also help enforce the ban on open defecation. Jigawa has achieved ODF status, but maintaining that achievement is even more demanding,” he stated.
He urged the environmental officers to approach their duties with seriousness and dedication, emphasizing that their core role is to educate, guide, and advise households, businesses, and the public on maintaining hygiene using practical and accessible means.
Dr. Kazaure further highlighted ongoing government efforts to construct public toilets in schools, markets, motor parks, and other public areas to promote universal access to sanitation and discourage open defecation.
Speaking at the event, the Managing Director of JISEPA, Mr. Adamu Sabo, revealed that the 270 health workers were selected from all 27 local government areas, with 10 representatives per LGA.
He commended Governor Malam Umar Namadi for his continued commitment to environmental health and thanked UNICEF for its vital support in advancing water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) initiatives across the state.
