By Okuanwan Offiong
The Lagos State Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with Phosguard Fumigants Nig. Ltd, on Thursday unveiled a Community Vector Control Point (CVCP) in Surulere, Lagos.
The premier CVCP, located at Adisa Bashua Street, Surulere, is aimed at controlling the multiplication of mosquitoes and larvae growth which cause malaria.
Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, represented by his Special Adviser on Environment, Mr Babatunde Hunpe, said that the initiative was laudable but needed collaboration for sustenance.
In his speech, the Commissioner for Environment, Dr Babatunde Adejare, also represented by Hunpe, said that the CVCP would make use of the vector tanks to fumigate drainage channels across the state.
“This will complement vector control mobile vehicles which will also carry out larviciding exercise in the hard-to reach areas.
“This is yet a step forward in our determination to eradicate the mammals, birds, insects and other organisms which transmit disease pathogens.
“There is no doubt that malaria control and that of other insect borne diseases, is greatly dependent on our ability to control the vectors that transmit these diseases, ‘’ he said.
He said,“An unprecedented increase of movement of people and commodities worldwide and the increasing interactions of humans with the environment and deforestation are just some of the factors that have provided greater opportunity for transmission of pathogens between species and human.
“Others include climate change and urbanisation.
“It is our belief that we can prevent or greatly reduce the occurrence of a wide range of diseases in humans by targeting control measures at animals,’’ the commissioner said.
Adejare urged Nigerians, especially Lagosians, to make sanitation a priority.
“It is common knowledge that to halt the spread of diseases Lagosians must maintain proper sanitation in their homes.
“This is done by keeping the environment clean, especially through vegetal control and proper handling of waste.
“Regular cleaning and clearing of drains, personal hygiene of hand washing and properly bagging of waste to keep off vectors like rats come to play in eliminating vectors,’’ he said.
The commissioner noted that the administration was committed to attaining the smart-city status and as such, the efforts could not be sacrificed at the altar of poor sanitation and inefficient solid waste management.
He commended the efforts of Phosgard Fumigants ltd. for its worthy partnership and determined effort toward a sustainable environment.
In his response, Mr Oluwasegun Benson, the Chief Executive Officer of Phosguard Fumigant, said the CVCP served as a hub to the people in the grassroots when it came to vector control.
“The CVCP project is expected to help initiate a rapid decline in diseases caused by mosquitoes and other vectors in the state.
“This will aid efforts to reduce the incidence of malaria and other vector-borne diseases in the state.
“The CVCP houses vector tanks, which will be used to store larvicides used to fumigate drainage channels of streets across the radius of 1.5 to 2 kilometres, given the flight range of mosquitoes.
“The vector control mobile vehicles will also carry out larviciding exercises in the hard-to-reach areas like sub-canals.
“The larviciding will be done weekly or a every forthnight; neighbourhoods are expected to pay a token of N200 per flat,” he said.
Benson said that the project, aimed at complementing the Cleaner Lagos Initiative, would turn Lagos into a clean mega city, thereby becoming the first of its kind in the nation.
He said that the exercise would also aid efforts to combat outbreaks of cholera, lassa fever or Zika virus, a disease associated with mosquitoes.
“It will also serve as the first-line of response in case of any emergency and finally, it has some employment benefits for our youths,’’ he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that dignitaries that graced the occasion included the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila and a Lagos lawmaker, Desmond Elliott.
Others were representatives the WHO, Lagos State Ministries of Health and Environment, Markets Women Association, Community Development Centre (CDC), Community Development Association (CDA), among others.
