The National Youth Service Corps has disclosed that preservation and maintenance of clean and healthy environment are essential prerequisites for a healthy living.
The NYSC Director General, Brigadier General YD Ahmed stated this on Saturday in his address while flagging -off the 2024 National Environment Sanitation Exercise held at Karu, in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
He said since it’s inception over fifty years ago, the NYSC has been a veritable tool in executing landmark projects under the activities of Corps Members deployed to serve in different parts of the country.
He added that it is against this backdrop that being a great pillar of National development, the Scheme places high premium in conducting Community Development Service projects on environmental sanitation to ensure that Members of the public live in clean and hygienic environments.
General Ahmed, whose address was read by the Director, Community Development Service and Special Projects, Hajiya Zainab Isah urged Nigerians, especially the residents of Karu community to prioritize environmental sanitation in their households, work environment and public places.
“Sadly, in many parts of the world, environmental sanitation is often not given due attention it deserves, and the consequences of such neglect are evident in the spread of epidemics and diseases such as cholera, typhoid, malaria among others”, he said.
Speaking on behalf of the Director, Community Development Service and Special Projects, Hajiya Zainab Isah, Mr Solomon Arumeme appealed to the residents of Karu community and the general public not to see the event as a one-off exercise, but sustain it as a good reference for the promotion of community healthy living.
In his vote of thanks on behalf of the Sa’karuyi of Karu Kingdom, the Chairman, Karu District Heads Forum, Chief Nicodemus Machi appreciated the immense contributions of Corps Members to the development of Karu over the years.
He also lauded the NYSC Management for bringing the sanitation exercise to his domain, adding that it would increase the awareness of clean environment among his subjects.
The 2024 National Environmental Sanitation Exercise with the theme; “A clean environment is a happy environment”, was held simultaneously in other 36 states of the Federation.
