CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Environmental sanitation is one of the widely known tools with significant contributions towards national development across the globe. It refers to efforts or activities aimed at developing and maintaining a clean, safe and pleasant physical environment in all human settlements. It includes the control of aspects of waste that may lead to the transmission of diseases. This encompasses not just excreta disposal and management, but also solid waste management, drainage and hygiene behaviour within living environments. Residents in cities with access to proper environmental sanitation have improved living conditions, enhanced health and well-being and economic productivity.
The concept of environmental sanitation entails the control of water supplies, excreta disposal, waste water disposal, refuse disposal, vectors of disease, housing conditions, food supplies and the safety of the working environment. In a simple parlance, environmental sanitation is the sum total of activities embarked upon by people to promote healthy living conditions. Mmom and Mmom opined that effective environmental sanitation in cities is a function of positive environmental behaviour and availability of facilities and services. This view is complimented by Daramola (2012), Afon and Faniran (2013) that availability of adequate environmental sanitation facilities and enabling environmental sanitation policies positively influence the achievement of a healthy living environment.
The quality of environment is essential for health of both adults and children. WHO (2013) affirmed that more than 2.4 billion people in the world currently lack access to adequate environmental sanitation and are forced to dispose their excreta in unimproved and unsanitary conditions. Majority of these people are found in Africa and other developing countries of the world. Ekong (2015) opined that environmental sanitation problems are responsible for about 30% of the burden of diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. Environmental sanitation problems are behavioural man-made environmental hazards which emanates from living environment. Disaster from environmental sanitation problems affects resident’s health, structure, environmental resources and national and household economic assets. These problems are made more acute in these parts of the world as a result of rapid urbanization and uncontrolled population growth, without commensurate expansion in sanitary facilities.
Environmental conditions are appalling in many Nigerian cities, the deplorable and dehumanizing conditions of physical environment calls for sober reflections from all stakeholders. The impacts of poor environmental sanitation situations are severe on Nigeria thus hindering and undermining its development. In Nigeria, adequate environmental sanitation has not been strictly adhered to. Its practices in the country are characterized by lack of basic amenities and poor sanitation behaviour thus having serious consequences for health on citizens. The living environment in the country is well polluted owing to social misdemeanour of citizens. These scenarios have in turn become a recipe for disaster in urban centres. It is on this note that this study seeks to examine the effectiveness of mandatory monthly environmental sanitation exercise in ensuring a clean and safe environment by using Akwa Ibom State as a case study.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The failure of the numerous efforts to address the problem of environmental sanitation has been attributed to various factors. Prominent among these are: unhealthy socio-cultural practices; poor Environmental Sanitation education and awareness; low literacy level; bad governance over the years; disregard for the rule of law and other forms of indiscipline (Agagu, 2009).
Waste management is at the lowest ebb in most towns and communities. Most parts of the city centres do not benefit from public waste disposal services and therefore, have to bury or burn their waste or dispose it haphazardly. In most cities like Uyo (the capital of Akwa Ibom State) and peri-urban centres, refuse heaps are left unattended and where the Government Authorities do the collection, it is often irregular and sporadic. The recycling of waste is negligible while methods of storage, collection, transportation, compaction and final disposal are very unsatisfactory (Ladan, 2015).
The alarming rate at which heaps of solid waste continue to occupy our cities, coupled with the fact that 87% of Nigerians use disposal methods adjudged as insanitary, has not only constituted visual blight and odour nuisance, but also encouraged the breeding of rodents, mosquitoes and other pests of public health importance, with attendant disease outbreaks (Oyekan & Sulyman, 2015).
Furthermore, some of the waste materials are toxic; others are either non-biodegradable or not readily degradable such as “pure water” sachets and polythene shopping bags (Akinro, 2012, et al,). Also included are various types of industrial/chemical waste that can contaminate soil and ground water sources if not properly disposed. Other major concern is the generation of waste from health care institutions/facilities, which contain infectious/hazardous materials that pose potential hazards to human and environmental health when improperly disposed. The improper handling and disposal of medical waste is a major threat to refuse collectors and scavengers and can result in infections such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, tetanus, excetera (WHO, 2017).
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The main objective of the study is to examine the effectiveness of mandatory monthly environmental sanitation exercise in ensuring a clean and safe environment by using Akwa Ibom State as a case study, but for the successful completion of the study, the researcher intends to achieve the following specific objectives;
i) To determine the impact of education on environmental sanitation.
ii) To understand the relationship between cleanness and health.
iii) To examine the contributions of environmental sanitation to cleanliness and good human condition in Akwa Ibom State.
1.4 Research Questions
The following are some of the questions which this study intends to answer:
i) What is the impact of education on environmental sanitation?
ii) What is the relationship between cleanness’ and health?
iii) What are the contributions of environmental sanitation to cleanliness and good human condition in Akwa Ibom State?
1.5 Research Hypotheses
The following will be the research hypotheses to be tested for this study:
i) There is no significant relationship between education and environmental.
ii) There is no significant correlation between cleanness and health.
iii) There is no significant relationship between environmental sanitation and cleanliness and good human condition.
1.6 Significance of the Study
This study examines the effectiveness of mandatory monthly environmental sanitation exercise in ensuring a clean and safe environment by using Akwa Ibom State as a case study. Therefore, this study will help to identify ways of improving the environmental sanitation of not just the people of Akwa Ibom State alone but to all Nigerians as a whole. Another major importance of this study is that, it will help to explain clearly usefulness of environmental sanitation to the general populace.
1.7 Scope of Study
Although the researcher recognised other public health but limited this study to the selected state in Akwa Ibom State as a case study. This is because no researcher can treat all the services needs in the area with in the limited time and under a research of this type. It should be noted that all the contributing factors that hinders the researcher from carrying out the research work into detail include finance, attitude of the people to research work of this type based on their ignorance and lukewarm attitude to the importance of research findings.
1.8 Definition of Terms
The following operational words were used in this study;
Environmental: connected with the natural condition in which people animal and plants live connected with the environment. Connected with the condition that affects the behaviour and environmental influence e.g. an environmental health officer.
Sanitation: The equipment and systems that keep places clean, especially by removing human waste disease resulting from poor sanitation.
Health: state of well-being and the weather condition of people especially when used to perform a very simple task, not practical.
Environmental Sanitation: the natural condition in which people animals and plants live connected with the environment. White sanitation is the equipment and systems that keep places clean, especially by removing human waste disease resulting from poor sanitation.
