The Federal Government on Tuesday assured adequate support for the profession of Environmental Health in the Country, the Honorable Minister of Environment, Dr. Mahmood Abubakar Muhammed, made this assertion while receiving in his office, the committee of Registrars of health profession in Abuja who had come to pay a courtesy visit on him.
According to the Minister, “I will continue to push and uplift that profession because, it is here really that we do not see some of these things as crucial” he enthused.
Dr. Abubakar Mahmood said “if everyone does his or her job, the doctors in the consulting rooms or their operating rooms, there would be less patients because once the Environmental Health Officers also attend to their jobs, you will have less incidences of diseases of all kinds”.
The Honorable Minister who recalled with nostalgia, his practice days in United States as an Environmental Health officer posited on how health sectors happened to be the engine room of the society. In his words “they keep people healthy and going otherwise will just be suffering and anguish and economic downgrade”.
On the marginalization of the department of Environmental health in the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Mahmood Abubakar promised the visiting committee of Registrars of Health profession that he would intervene by talking to his colleagues in the Ministry of Health.
The Honorable Minister Dr. Abubakar however showed his displeasure on the introduction of Food Hygiene bill in the National Assembly, saying “in this period of COVID-19 when the economy is already suffering, there is no need to duplicate a job which is being done by another Agency of Government because, the pandemic has caused a lot of stress and pressure on the economy, adding that “there is a lot more to consider than just enacting a law, it has to be something that is needed” he said.
In his remark, the chairman of committee of Registrars of Health Profession in Nigeria, Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim Mami commended the Minister of Environment on his leadership style.
Ibrahim Mami however, pleaded with the Minister to wade into the marginalization being experienced by the department of Environmental Health in the Federal Ministry of Health adding that the position of director is vacant in the Ministry.
He also called on the Minister to discourage the passing of Food Hygiene bill forwarded to National Assembly which would amount to duplication of duty because the function is already being performed by an agency under his Ministry which is Environmental Health Officers Registration Council of Nigeria (EHORECON).
Those present at the meeting are the acting Registrar, EHORECON Dr. Baba Yakubu Mohammed and 13 other Registrars of health profession in Nigeria.
Kehinde A. Openibo
Head, Public Affairs
For: Registrar
24/2/2021
