Indiscriminate Refuse Disposal: The Way Forward

Refuse dumping can be observed in nearly every city on Nigeria. Almost every city has a locality which is aesthetically marred by Mount Everest- like heaps of domestic and industrial wastes. Like cancer, indiscriminate refuse dumping calls for urgent and drastic measures. Thanks to Nigeria's fertility rate of 5.8, the population of Nigeria is on the increase and this means that the volume of wastes generated will also increase exponentially. If the refuse dumping is not curbed now, future generations may be born into a Nigeria nearly submerged by refuse.

Indiscriminate refuse dumping affects everyone; young, old, rich, poor, employed and unemployed. First and foremost, indiscriminate refuse dumping mars the aesthetic appeal of any environment. This limits the commercial opportunities possible in such an area. No company would dream of siting an office in an environment dominated by pungent smells and views of refuse heaps. Health wise, indiscriminate refuse dumping leads to the proliferation of vectors and harmful microbes which transmit infections.

To curb this menace if indiscriminate refuse dumping, stringent sanctions should be created to serve as a deterrent to erring citizens. While there are many policies and regulations prohibiting refuse dumping, many of them lack legal weight and consistency of enforcement.

Political will is indispensable if this menace is to be curbed. If the government perceives refuse dumping to be an issue that warrants their urgent intervention, it will aid in the promulgation and enforcement of policies and the development and maintenance of a functional refuse disposal system.

However, until these are developed, the solution to refuse dumping begins with every individual. One little decision to throw a piece of paper into a trashcan and not on the streets will go a long way to curb this menace.

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(CREDITS: Emerald!)

Indiscriminate Refuse Dumping: A Paper Today A Dunghill Tomorrow

Illicit refuse dumping is a mental hidden disease inoculated in the brain cells of most Nigerians from the onset of time. It’s an endemic condition on its own as these habits are passed on from generation to generation, also with collapse of structures like kick against indiscipline and in house inspection by sanitation officers (although with several lapses) to ensure waste is properly managed, the end seems farther away.

Even with the presence of some waste management systems, population surge plays an important role as resources to deal with these wastes are not adequate enough to salvage the situation. A typical Nigerian blames the government for almost everything possible but I start to wonder if they blame their poor attitude towards waste disposal as governmental infliction also.

With the blinding of the indirect causes and laissez faire attitude to the environment, most Nigerians tend to keep on with this act day in day out, however different Public Health professionals were interviewed to also garner views to why people perpetuate this act and also to inform us on the effects it has on the environment and humans, please download this week’s episode from the link below, Thanks.

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Appropriate Age For Girl Child to Get Married? #ChildnotBride

This week’s episode focuses on the child bride issues, with senates’ refusal to abolish the section of Nigeria 1999 constitution on child marriage which allows a girl child of age 13 who is engaged in underage marriage to be seen as a full grown woman.  It is important to note most of this underage girls often come up with Vesico-Vagina Fistula which is a major public health concern for the global community as the prevalence of this defect occur more among underage girls who started to bear children before their physical development is complete.

Underage marriage increases the risk of maternal mortality as NDHS (2008) reports that the maternal mortality ratio in Nigeria is 545 deaths per 100,000 live births and globally more than 70,000 girls aged 15 to 19 die of complications due to child birth only, with those surviving having to battle delayed physical and cognitive development.

According to the international center for research on women, if present child marriage trends continue, 142 million girls worldwide will be forced to marry adult men during the next decade which is an equivalent of about 38,000 girls every day.

Vox-pop interviews were conducted amongst some public health professionals on their thoughts and ideas on the appropriate age for girl child to be considered matured enough to get married.

Please download this week’s episode on the appropriate age for a girl child to get married so you can make your internal decision considering this issue and don’t forget your views too can be listened to on this issue by dropping a comment, because this is a fight against injustice and we must fight it to the end. Thanks

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LINK: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/ro5smy37ovuum5q/PHR-Episode2.mp3?dl=1&token_hash=AAGWPUAvvD5MkF2AEdbQH8loOrDiVRAdfBLFqEXCf8coaw

PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY IMPLEMENTATION: WEAKNESS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

This week episode focuses on views from different public health professionals on inherent weakness in public health policies and recommendations on ways to address them.

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DOWNLOAD : https://www.dropbox.com/s/pmhplgipn6fn3om/PHR-Episode1.mp3

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This blog is aimed at improving global health by exchange of practical ideas and contributions through media resources. Be the CHANGE you want to see.

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