Malaria: Enugu lawmaker employs 90 youths for fumigation

The Chairman, Enugu State House Committee on Environment, Obinna Okenwa, has employed 90 youths to fumigate residential and public places in Enugu South Local Government for three months.
Okenwa, who represents Enugu South-Urban Constituency in the state House of Assembly, disclosed this in Enugu on Thursday at the inauguration of the fumigation exercise and Obinna Okenwa Foundation.
The lawmaker said that he had engaged 90 youths as temporary staff for the council-wide exercise, which would last for three months.
Okenwa said: “In particular, my decision to start with the fumigation and environmental protection aspects of the Foundation’s activities was based on my understanding of the health benefits of a clean and pest-free environment.
“The objectives of the project should include the elimination of disease vector habitats to curtail the spread of malaria, rabies, cholera and other endemic diseases.
“Accordingly, a well-designed and comprehensively effective integrated pest management system has been developed to mitigate infestation problems and improve human habitation.
“Today’s event will be followed up with communities’ sensitisation rallies and the mobilisation of youths and school children for voluntary environmental sanitation activities.’’
The legislator said that the project would cost N10 million as the money would cover transportation, purchase of equipment, salaries, rallies and publicity for the exercise.
He said: “That is why I floated the Foundation to get funding support.’’
The Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Edward Ubosi, said that lawmakers have a duty to take care of the pressing needs of their constituents.
Ubosi said: “Okenwa through this act has shown that he is close to his people and is passionate for their care and wellbeing.
“Everybody, including myself, that grew up in this council area understands the menace of mosquitoes even back to my school days in Christ the King College.
“I wish every lawmaker to emulate this kind and far-reaching gesture of Okenwa to his constituents in order to support our governor to provide dividends of democracy to our people.’’
The speaker, who donated N1 million to the foundation, urged other lawmakers to support the worthy project of safe-guarding the health of the people.
Earlier, the state Commissioner for Environment, Chief Fidel Ayogu, said that Okenwa was leading by example and supporting the state government to enhance save environment for the populace.
Ayogu said: “If other lawmakers could embark on the same exercise; definitely mosquitoes and people falling ill would be a thing of the past in the state.’’
However, the commissioner cautioned that the fumigation should be done within laid down guidelines in order to avoid any harmful effects on residents and fumigation workers.