Naomi Gabriel —

The Nigerian Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi in Abuja, at a three-day progamme on the National Environmental Health Business Forum, organised by Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) said that operating by standard and quality service delivery would ensure protection, preservation, healthy environment and safety of the people.

Abdullahi also said the environment is increasingly being negatively impacted, which in turn, causes disease and other health conditions.

“Environmental health risks and exposures are responsible for nearly half of the global burden of morbidity, he said.

“We are concerned about the quality of service delivery in the sector and insist that operators must imbibe the principles of duty of care.

“The health professionals should ensure protection and preservation of the environment and above all, work within the confines of a circular economy, which emphasise a green economy,’’ he said.

The minister said that the forum would provide opportunity to the environmental health officials to share ideas and knowledge with the experts.

He said that the effort would support the officials to tackle the environmental challenges in the country.

He said that recently, President Muhammadu Buhari signed the Environmental Health Officers Act into law, adding that the effort would further empower the council to regulate more effectively.

According to him, the ministry is making the environmental health sector to flourish to its potentials as well as ensure the spread of disease is effectively tackled.