By Juliana Nwachukwu :
In his bid to cue into the healthy living programme of the Anambra State Government’s initiatives, the chairman of New Auto Spare Parts Market, Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area, Chief Stephen Ofoleh, has fumigated the market against outbreak of cholera and other diseases.
Prior to the commencement of the fumigation, Chief Ofoleh revealed that the initiative was prompted by a directive from the Special Adviser to Governor Charles Soludo on Trade and Markets, Chief Evarist Uba, conveyed through the President General of Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders’ Association (ASMATA), Chief Humphrey Anuna.
He noted that the directive mandated the negotiation with the state Ministry of Agriculture’s veterinary services to fumigate the markets, in response to the growing concern about diseases like cholera.
The chairman explained that state government recognized the importance of extending the exercise beyond markets to include hospitals, schools, churches, and other facilities, to comprehensively combat both airborne and other forms of diseases.
Chief Ofoleh, who has always prioritized health issues, said that their market is the first to benefit from this initiative.
Speaking further, he lauded the state government for having the interest of the traders at heart, saying that the present administration led by Governor Soludo is very concern about the citizens and their health condition.
An Environmental Scientist (Veterinarian) Dr. Chinedu Amuta, said that they have all the equipments required for the exercise which includes chemicals to tackle viruses in the air, fryer fungi, bacteria which goes right inside the air to attack any kind of fungi, bacterias and viruses.
“Additionally, we are also addressing insect-borne diseases caused by snakes, cockroaches, mosquitoes, and others causative agents which often lead to malaria and other illnesses.
“Moreover, we’re tackling zoonotic diseases transmitted from rats to humans, which can be controlled through effective measures. As we apply chemicals to combat viral diseases, we are also simultaneously applying insecticides to target these insect-borne diseases.”
Amuta who is the Chairman, Registered Association of Nigeria Determinators and Agro Chemical Dealers, advised people to be very serious with the exercise.
He said that it is not all about the markets and facilities in the state as cholera is causing a lot of disaster now.
He advised that people should be conscious of their health.
The chairman hinted that most of these pesticides, if not rightly managed, can cause diseases to people and advised that people should ensure that a professional from a registered organisation is engaged in the control of pests for them.
The environmental scientist after the exercise issued a certificate of job completion to the market chairman.
*Nwachukwu is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State*
