WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY EVENT ORGANISED BY ANEEJ AT IDIA COLLEGE HALL,BENIN CITY, EDO STATE,JUNE 5,2014

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY EVENT ORGANISED BY ANEEJ AT IDIA COLLEGE HALL,
BENIN CITY, EDO STATE, JUNE 5, 2014.
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A seminar was organized by ANEEJ to mark 2014 World Environment Day. The event held on June 5, 2014 at Idia College, Benin City, Edo State.
The theme for this year world environment day was Small Island Developing States and the official slogan was “Raise your voice not sea level” while ANEEJ maintained a local theme which centered on how to maintain a healthy environment.
The seminar focused on training school children on the safe use of toilets and the importance of hand washing with soap and clean water. The schools that benefited from the seminar include Emokpae Primary School, Adesuwa Primary School, Emotan Primary School, Iyi-Eweka Primary School, Fabiyi-Akpata Primary School, Ukhegie Primary School and Idia College Senior Secondary School all in Benin City. Other participants include ANEEJ staff and members of the press. In all, 59 participants attended the event.

The seminar featured a brief opening ceremony during which the welcome address of ANEEJ Executive Director was delivered by Ramat Idiake – Head of Finance and Admin who represented the ED. She welcomed all participants to the event and said that sanitation is the primary barrier for preventing fecal-oral disease transmission e.g. water that has come in contact with faeces and is then inadequately treated before drinking. The simple act of washing one’s hand with soap and clean water can reduce diarrhea and can mean more school days for children.

She also mention that ANEEJ is taking the lead to ensure safe society by calling on well-meaning Nigerians and stakeholders in the environmental sector, (particularly Ministry of Environment) to advance their standard of approach and technicality in facing environmental challenges.

Ramat Idiake thanked the participants for honouring ANEEJ invitation.

TECHNICAL SESSION: The technical session featured a presentation by Sandra Eguagie (ANEEJ Programme Assistant – Water and Sanitation), on safe use of toilets and hand washing with soap and clean water.
According to Sandra, good toilet practices include:
1. Flushing before and after use.
2. Making sure the toilet seat is dry before use.
3. When flushing the toilet or urinal after use, it is advisable to step aside so no liquid splash on you.
4. Do not walk on bare footed into public toilet.
5. When using toilet paper, don’t reach down between your legs, but from the sides.
6. Wiping motion should be front to back especially for women (girls)
7. Washing your hands is the final step in proper use of toilets.
She then taught the students how to wash their hands properly as follows;
1. Wet your hands
2. Apply some soap (ash)
3. Palm to palm
4. Between fingers
5. Back of hands
6. Base thumbs
7. Back of fingers
8. Finger nails
9. Wrist
10. Between fingers again
11. Rinse and dry with a clean towel.
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Sandra Eguagie demonstrating hand washing with soap and clean water to the students.

She emphasized that washing of hands should be done;
1. Before and after eating
2. Before and after preparing food
3. After coming home from school and after playing side
4. After changing nappies or washing a child who has gone to toilet.
5. Before and after being with a sick person
6. Before and after treating a cut or wound
7. After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing etc.
She made it known to the students that hand washing with soap and clean water is the cheapest and single most effective way to prevent the spread of infections. Effective hand washing with soap can kill germs that cause common cold, flu etc.
At the end of the paper presentation, there were questions and answers.
Highlight of the seminar was the presentation of sanitary materials to representatives of schools present at the seminar, by Ramat Idiake.
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Ramat Idiake presenting sanitary materials to a student of Idia College, Benin City.

Mrs. Bazuaye F.N. a teacher from Adesuwa Primary School, spoke on behalf of staff and students present, in appreciation of what ANEEJ has done. She particularly appreciated ANEEJ for finding them worthy to benefit from such an important seminar which will go a long way them in their day to day activities.
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Cross Section of students at the event
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Cross Section of students at the event

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