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Lassa fever: Govt evacuates dump site

By Kemi Olatunde
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As part of efforts geared towards curtailing Lassa Fever outbreak in Ondo State, concrete work has begun on the evacuation of ancient dump sites in residential areas across the state.

General Manager, Ondo State Waste Management Authority, Mrs. Bola Akinyanmi disclosed this while inspecting the level of work at some dump sites in Owo, in Owo local government.

Describing poor waste management as one of the major causes of Lassa fever, she noted that government is determined to deal with the causes and also give necessary attention to victims.

She explained that the exercise took off in Owo Local Government because it is the most affected area, saying “Owo has the highest number of victims, hence the need for waste management intervention by evacuating ancient dump sites within residential areas.”

Akinyanmi, while frowning at the lackadaisical attitude of the Ehin Ogbe market users towards maintaining proper hygienic environment, suggested that the market be relocated till work is completed at the site.

Her words; “There is an adjacent market to the dump site at Ehin Ogbe and there is the need to move the market or close it down to enable us complete the work and also prevent contamination of food in the market.

“People were seen selling, displaying fish, processing and frying garri among others less than five metres away from the dump site where evacuation is ongoing and they were less concerned.

“It is not a standard practice at all. Generally, around the place,  there is no culture of waste management.

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We also have an abandoned site used as dump site. There is the urgent need to reach out to community leaders in Owo Local Government to assist us in closing down the market till the completion of work.”

The GM, while commending the level of work done at the site,   said; “It is an age long dump site, but it is gradually becoming a neat place. Before the commencement of work,  the place was fumigated and that will still be repeated on completion of the exercise.”

She stressed the need for members of the public to key into environmental sanitation ethics saying “it has been observed that  awareness is very low. So many drainages are filled with filths and waste water. The people are just not doing anything about general sanitary management.”

However, she called on the people of the local government to set a day aside to enable them give proper attention to their environment.

Speaking with The Hope, a market woman, Mrs Aina Aladetimi commended government for evacuating the Ehin Ogbe dump site and appealed that the place be developed to prevent it from being used as dump site again.

Also speaking, a palmwine seller, Joke Samuel whose shop is adjacent the dump site described the site as a very challenging one for her business before now.

Other dump sites visited include the ones on Ogunmolawa street and adjacent Owo Prison Service among others.

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Lassa fever: Govt evacuates dump site

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