The house-to-house sanitary inspection services, which were long abandoned in Abia State by previous administrations, have been restored by Governor Alex Otti, with a charge on the inspectors to monitor environmental conditions of homes, markets, schools and other areas of the State.

Relaunching the program on Thursday, Governor Otti noted that the restoration of house-to-house sanitary inspections was a proactive measure to ensure a cleaner Abia State, thereby enhancing public health and environmental quality.

He noted that the initiative was a return to the fundamental values of public health, personal responsibility, and community hygiene that once defined the State.

Otti, who was represented by his Deputy, Ikechuckwu Emetu, said that necessary resources, tools, and trainings would be provided to the sanitary inspectors to ensure the success of the initiative in preventing the outbreak of communicable diseases such as cholera, malaria, typhoid, among others.

“Let me assure you that this government will provide the resources, tools, and training needed to make this initiative effective.

“Environmental Health Officers will be well-equipped and guided by professionalism, compassion, and dedication,” he said.

Governor Otti urged traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth, women’s groups, market unions, and the media to join hands with the government to promote the programme.

In his speech, the Commissioner for Environment, Philemon Ogbonna described the restoration of the sanitary inspection services as a decisive leap towards building healthier communities.

He regretted that Abia communities for long suffered the consequences of poor environmental hygiene, ranging from indiscriminate waste disposal, stagnant water, overgrown premises to unhealthy living conditions.