By Ighomuaye Lucky. O
The National Youth Service Corps scheme has taken the gospel of cleanliness to the Oregbeni Market in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State with the charge to imbibe the culture of cleanliness as it is next to godliness.
The state coordinator of the scheme, Mrs. Ben-Ushie Frances IFeoma, while flagging off the campaign, said that the exercise is a prompt response to reports from the scheme’s Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers (HIRD) programme which has highlighted a disturbing trend, such as poor sanitation and hygiene as major causes of diseases in our communities.
She said that this was also a concern echoed by both the World Health Organization(WHO) and the United Nations (UN) General Assembly which have documented the great consequences of poor sanitation to include diseases, disability and death and which the scheme cannot ignore.
Mrs. Ifeoma said corps members as a change agents, having been notified of the dangers associated with poor sanitation, decided to improve the lives and the living conditions of the people at the grassroots level by participating in the sanitation exercise at the Oregbeni Market.
Ifeoma said that the campaign is not just about cleaning but it is about setting an example and to encourage everyone to maintain a clean environment.
According to her”I urged everyone here, community leaders, market traders and residents to join us in this vital endeavour because a clean environment is not only aesthetically pleasing but also essential for our health.
“Let us work together to make Benin City and Edo State a model of cleanliness and good health ”
On the part of the local government chairman, Dr Eric Osayande, represented by Pastor Duze Josephine, Head of Department, Revenue, said that the council’s chairman welcomes such a partnership from the NYSC scheme.
Dr. Osayande said that the people of Oregbeni are very fortunate to have had the sanitization exercise flagged off in their market.
He appealed to the scheme to sustain its tempo and never to be tired in assisting the local government in keeping the local government and the state clean.
Also thanking the NYSC scheme is the leader of the Oregbeni Market, Mr. Edwin Imafidon, represented by Mr. Michael Osifo.
Mr. Edwin Imafidon said that they least expected what they are seeing at the market noting that it will help to change the orientation of the market women and will help them develop the right attitude on how to keep a very clean environment either at home or in their various shades where they carry out their businesses.