RIWAMA Boss frowns on indiscriminate Dumping of stillbirths..

The Sole Administrator, Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA), Bro. Felix Obuah has frowned at the habit of dropping still born babies and placenta at the receptacles by maternity homes and other health workers.

Jerry Needam, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Bro. Felix Obuah, in a statement to ThisNigeria stated that the Administrator also noted with dismay the tendency by some healthcare practitioners to prefer the services of cart pushers who rather dispose of these dangerous waters on the roadsides to those of service providers certified fit and approved for evacuating wastes.

The statement revealed “Bro. Obuah stated this when he received a team of consultants from Environmental Health Essentials led by Mr. Herbert Tobin West. They visited his office ahead of the workshop for health workers in hospitals industry, pharmaceutical companies, maternity homes, laboratories and other clinical/health care waste generators and handlers in Rivers State”

“The RIWAMA boss gave a nod to the need to re-emphasize consciousness of health workers on the consequences of improper handling and disposal of clinical wastes especially in an industrialized and densely populated state like Rivers”.

“He frowned on the wrong attitude and unprofessional practices of some health care practitioners and workers who dispose of their wastes indiscriminately and at unapproved incinerators not designated by the state government.”
He said the Agency will not tolerate any act(s) that militate against the environmental health and sanitary laws of the state but will readily support and align with programmes that are in line with RIWAMA agenda which is to see Rivers State environmentally cleaner, brighter and its residents healthier.

“More worrisome, according to the RIWAMA boss, is the habit of dropping stillborn babies and placenta at the receptacles by maternity homes. He hoped that the forthcoming training for the health professionals and workers which is mandatory will address some of those anomalies for the health benefit of Rivers people and those doing business in the state, after which the Agency will go all out for defaulters in this regard for prosecution”.

The RIWAMA Sole Administrator commended the Environmental Health Essentials for their vision to organize such important training and assured them of the agency’s support and collaboration.

Earlier, the leader of the Environmental Health Essentials, Herbert Tobin West had commended the RIWAMA Sole Administrator, Bro. Felix Obuah for a good job of transforming the outlook of Port Harcourt, the state capital through commitment and sound sanitation policies.

“As we drive through some major roads around to this office, we were impressed with the general outlook of the environment without the erstwhile heaps of wastes that used to be a confronting and embarrassing feature around some parts of Port Harcourt. May we urge you to keep it up Sir,” Mr. Tobin West pleaded.

He said the training is targeted at those in hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, maternity homes, laboratories and other clinical and healthcare waste generators and handlers who are expected to sponsor their representatives for the workshop and called on the Agency for support.