FREHON Urges Gov Adeleke To Employ More Environmental Health Officers

-Launches FREHON Constitution

– Unveils FREHON NGO

The Forum of Retired Environmental Health Officers of Nigeria (FREHON), Osun State Chapter, on Wednesday, charged Governor Ademola Adeleke on the need to employ more environmental health officers to protect and promote a healthy living environment in the state.

Sanitarian I.F. Oyewole, Osun FREHON Chairman, gave the charge at the Launching of FREHON Constitution and Inauguration of FREHON NGO, at the Osun EHOAN Permanent Secretariat in Osogbo

Oyewole said there is need for Osun State Government, under the leadership of Governor Ademola Adeleke, to employ more environmental health officers to sustain and improve environmental health.

He said: “May I appeal to the Osun State Government to employ more Environmental Health Officers to sustain and improve environmental health, since most of us have retired from service and many more are retiring”.

While enjoining residents of the state to cooperate with the state government and environmental health officers in their bid to ensure healthy living environment in the state, he said the issue of health promotion is a collective responsibility.

“The issue of health promotion and environmental sustainability is the collective responsibility of all and sundry.

“I am convinced that if we work together as a team, our goals will be achieved.

“We shall be able to create awareness of wholesome practice that will reduce air, water and land pollution and discourage those harmful practices that could lead to environmental degeneration,” he said.

Speaking on the achievements of FREHON since its creation in 2016 (with tte name Elders Forum which was later rejuvenated into the inclusion of new retirees during a meeting in Osogbo in April 2021), Oyewole said FREHON was able to create a constitution for the forum, to serve as the framework for the operations that would guide them in the realization of their dreams.

“Another giant stride in the history of the forum is the establishment and official registration of our Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) named “Sustainable Environment and Health Initiative” with the Corporate Affairs Commission on 10th December, 2023 with its Registration No. 7258692 unveiled today.

“I again appreciate all retired Sanitarians who made contribution towards bringing the NGO to light.” he said

In his lecture titled: “Roles of NGOs in Nation Building”, Chairman of the Association of the Waste Managers (PSP operators) in Osun State, Sanitarian Henry Femi Ogunbamiwo, explained that Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) are not-for-profit organizations that came into being in 1945 when United Nation was created.

Ogunbamiwo who encouraged environmental health officers on the need to have NGO said, “As globalization and international trade impact societies, so as nongovernmental organizations have become increasingly influential in world affairs.

“They are consulted by governments as well as international organizations like the United Nations which have created associated states for them.

“There are now thousands of non-governmental organisation (NGOs) in the world, operating in most countries.

“These organizations are not directly afflicted with any national government but often have a significant impact on the social, economic and political activity of the country or region involved. ” he said

Participants at the events which included: Professor Ife Adewumi, Dr Sunday Ojewale, General Manager of OWMA, Southwest President, Dr Tope Temitayo, San Richard Adeyinka among others, all vowed to support the Osun FREHON in all ramifications.