By Busuyi Ogidiolu
Ekiti State government wants members of Nigeria society of Engineers to see themselves as critical stakeholders in ensuring provision of water and hygienic environment to curb the spread of coronavirus.
The commissioner for infrastructure and public utilities, Mr Bamidele Faparusi made this known in Ado Ekiti at this year’s Engineering Week of the State chapter.
He emphasized the need for Engineers to come up with innovative designs of infrastructure for provision of safe water for hand washing and sanitation with consideration for peculiarity of the Nigerian society.
The commissioner who is a guest lecturer at the engineering week tagged ” The Role of Adequate Water Supply, Sanitation, Hygiene Infrastructure in Combating the Spread of Covid 19 in Nigeria, also urged government to rehabilitate existing water supply facilities as short term response to covid 19.
Mr Faparusi maintained that easing of lockdown due to emergencies response implies that more people would need increasing access to wash hand in public places such as schools, business outfits, markets among others.
He promised the State government commitment to its ongoing water rehabilitation project for 100℅ of its population by the end of 2021.
While delivering another lecture, The rector of the federal polytechnic Ado Ekiti, Dr Dayo Oladebeye noted that water and sanitation have symbiotic relationship as such could not be jettisoned if sound health, proper hygiene and coronavirus prevention would be achieved.
Dr Oladebeye expressed worry that millions of people globally were unable to practice frequent hand washing with soap and water, thereby increasing the risk of being susceptible to infectious diseases.
He called for government to pit in place sanitation and hygiene facilities to meet workers and patients need in all health facilities to fight against the pandemic.
On his part, the Branch chairman of the society of Engineers in the State, Dr Olumide Ogundipe added that the topic of the engineering week was carefully chosen going by the effects of covid19 ravaging the world with it attendant negative impact on the economy.
