By Isqil Najim
Prevention they say is better than cure. Indeed, Engineers are known to place emphasise on this due to nature of their job. It ia for this reason that Women Engineers under the banner of Association of Professional Women Engineera of Nigeria, APWEN team up with WaterAid to fight Cholera epidemic in Lagos riverine areas.
On August 17th 2024, the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) Lagos Chapter, in collaboration with WaterAid launched an environmental and waterways sanitation initiative in the Aiyetoro, Makoko community of Lagos. The efforts is a part of plan to prevent cholera outbreaks in the area.
Why Engineers are involved?
WASH, Water and Sanitation and Hygiene falls under the multidisciplinary fields of water and environmental engineering. The SDGs goal number.. include Water and environment.
To achieve the goal, the engineers are needed as they are actively involved in various stages if water preparation and distribution.
In a similar way the environmental Engineers are most crucial to many environmental related issues affecting the society. From.dtainage to pollution to … and many more. With more WASH Engineers in practices, it is therefore natural and imperative that the Engineers show interested in ways thwir works can help thw community overcome it challenges. Of recent is the COVID-19 pandemic where Engineers played crucial roles on many frinta to support the medical professionals in battling the virus. In the past, they also played crucial roles in fight against Ebola by offering their professional expertise.
Why Cholera?
Cholera outbreak has been reported in some communities around the country with Lagos not excluded. The bacteria spread through infected water. Many
Engr Atinuke Owolabi, Chairman, APWEN Lagos chapter, Owolabi stated that the group also sensitised the residents through a workshop on the measures they must adopt to prevent an outbreak of cholera in the community.
She said that the association embarked on the project due to the deteriorated and hazardous living condition of the community’s residents which may lead to cholera outbreak.
According to her, APWEN is not unaware that until every community is safe from cholera, none of us is, because we all exchange contact, either in the bus, market, public places, or anywhere possible.
Young Engineers Initiatives
One revelation at the event was wheh the chairman Engr Owolabi said that the initiative was driven by the Young Engineers of APWEN Lagos, who are advocates for Sustainable Developmental Goals VI, which is Clean Water and Sanitation.
Challenges observed
The engineer expressed worry that the visit of the association revealed that community do not also have potable water and toilet facilities, which poses serious hazard to their heath condition and by extension the larger society.
According to her, APWEN in collaboration with WaterAid, has taken effort to intervene in the situation by supporting them in whatever ways possible.
Community Engineering with human faces
“The community has been tagged as vulnerable, so most people or associations only go there to give them food and clothing.
“As engineers, we decided to empower them and educate them on how to clean their environment and waterways and they have promised to do so and make the place conducive within two weeks.
“Although, from estimate, they will need N350,000 to put some major things in place, we will support them with whatever we have as an association to get things done.
“This is important because the waterways at Aiyetoro is linked to Epe, Ikorodu, Iwaya, among others, which will be disastrous in the event of any outbreak,”she said.
According to the APWEN chairman, the association has promised to provide other additional support to the community if they are able to sustain a clean and healthy environment and waterways.
Owolabi said the support would include assisting students dropped out of school and empowering individuals with skills to improve their living standards.
She also mentioned that the association would offer scholarships to girls in the community with a passion for STEM, following a series of mentorship programmes.
Appeal to well-meaning members of the society.
The chairman appealed to well-meaning individuals and organisations to support APWEN’s efforts to address the critical environmental and health issue.
Commenting, Mr Adebayo Alao, Head, Lagos Programme at WaterAid, stressed the importance of good hygiene.
Alao noted that the initiative was not just for a one-time cleanup effort but the beginning of an ongoing sanitation campaign for the residents of Aiyetoro.
He announced that the Community Development Association(CDA) Chairman would appoint 50 residents as environmental sanitation officers in the area.
According to him, these individuals would be empowered by WaterAid, through the Yaba Local Council Development Area to enforce proper sanitation practices within the community.
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**APWENLAGOS LEADS CHARGE AGAINST CHOLERA IN MAKOKO: CHOLERA PREVENTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION WORKSHOP ORGANISED BY APWENLAGOS IN COLLABORATION WITH WATERAID**
On August 17th, the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria Lagos Chapter (APWENLagos), under the leadership of our Chairman, Engr. Atinuke Wuraola Owolabi, FNSE, in collaboration with WaterAid, organised a workshop on cholera prevention, environmental sanitation, and waterways cleanup for residents of the Aiyetoro, Makoko community.
This initiative was driven by the Young Engineers of APWENLagos, who are advocates for SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). Representatives from WaterAid led the workshop, educating the community on the critical importance of maintaining a clean environment. They highlighted that a clean environment, coupled with proper sanitation practices, is crucial in preventing diseases. Emphasizing that sanitation is “every man’s business,” they urged residents to adopt proper waste management practices and avoid disposing of waste into the waterways.
Mr. Adebayo Alao, Head of Lagos Programme at WaterAid, stressed the importance of good hygiene, noting that this initiative is not just a one-time cleanup effort but the beginning of an ongoing sanitation campaign for the residents of Aiyetoro. He announced that the CDA Chairman would appoint 50 residents as environmental sanitation officers, who would be empowered by WaterAid, through the Yaba LCDA, to enforce proper sanitation practices within the community.
A significant concern raised during the workshop was the lack of toilets in the community, which poses a serious health risk. APWENLagos is appealing to all well-meaning individuals and organizations to support efforts to address this critical issue. WaterAid has also assured its commitment to sponsoring engineering innovative solutions that could significantly improve the lives of the Aiyetoro community.
Engr. Mary Afolayan, MNSE, our past chairman, also encouraged the residents, noting that while APWENLagos and other voluntary organizations can support the community, the success of maintaining a clean environment ultimately depends on the residents’ commitment. Engr. Atinuke Owolabi, Chairman of APWENLagos, added that sustaining a clean community would encourage the association to provide additional support, such as assisting students who have dropped out of school and empowering individuals with skills to improve their living standards. She also mentioned that scholarships would be offered to girls in the community with a passion for STEM, following a series of mentorship programs.
The Baale and CDA Chairman of Aiyetoro expressed their gratitude to APWENLagos for initiating this timely and much-needed intervention, stating that they are fully committed to achieving a cleaner community.
The sanitation and waterways cleanup commenced at the Baale’s residence, symbolising the community’s commitment to the initiative. APWENLagos was given a time frame to revisit the community to assess the progress of the sanitation efforts. The official launch of the “Engineering Clean Communities, Preventing Cholera Together” initiative in Aiyetoro/Makoko was indeed a resounding success.
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#SDG6
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Feyisetan Oluwaseun