Recruit More Environmental Health Officers to Tackle Disease Outbreaks — Prof. Ajueyitsi

Recruit More Environmental Health Officers to Tackle Disease Outbreaks — Prof. Ajueyitsi

The Federal, State and Local Governments have been urged to urgently recruit and adequately equip more Environmental Health Officers to strengthen disease prevention, preparedness and response to emerging public health outbreaks in the country.

The call was made by Prof. Ajueyitsi Simeon during a stakeholders’ webinar organised by the Environmental Health Channel to commemorate the 2026 World Environmental Health Day.

The webinar, held virtually on Saturday, September 26, 2026, brought together hundreds of Environmental Health and Public Health practitioners, stakeholders, veterans, educators and students from different backgrounds. It was convened by Sanitarian Osimade Olayinka Awotola.

The programme centred on the 2026 World Environmental Health Day theme, “Environmental Health: Standing with Science to Protect Communities,” which highlighted the importance of scientific knowledge, evidence-based practice and professional competence in safeguarding public health.

Speaking on the topic, “Environmental Health Practitioner as the Bridge Between Science and Community Protection,” Prof. Ajueyitsi drew attention to growing concerns surrounding food safety in Nigeria, particularly the prevalence of unsafe food practices and challenges confronting the country’s food safety regulatory system.

He challenged Environmental Health Practitioners to rise to the occasion by strengthening their professional competence and positioning themselves to effectively protect communities from environmental and public health risks.

Prof. Ajueyitsi stressed that Environmental Health Practitioners have a critical role to play in translating scientific knowledge into practical measures capable of safeguarding public health. He therefore called for increased government investment in manpower and equipment to enhance the capacity of practitioners to respond effectively to disease outbreaks and emerging environmental health threats.

The second speaker, Femi Abolade, MPH, who is based in England and works in Gambling Harm Prevention and Education, spoke on “Evidence-Based Environmental Health Practice: Turning Science into Public Health Action.”

Abolade emphasised the growing importance of evidence in professional practice, noting that assumptions are increasingly being challenged and that professionals must be prepared to demonstrate the evidence supporting their decisions, interventions and recommendations.

He urged Environmental Health Practitioners to move beyond the blame game and take responsibility for the changes they desire to see in the profession and society. According to him, professionals seeking to make a difference should not wait for others to take action.

Abolade acknowledged that doing things differently could attract resistance and criticism but encouraged practitioners to remain focused on achieving progress rather than simply following established patterns.

Earlier in his opening address, the Convener, Sanitarian Osimade Olayinka Awotola, described the theme as timely and important, stressing that Environmental Health is not merely about responding to problems after they occur but also about applying science, evidence and professional knowledge to anticipate risks, prevent harm and protect communities.

He noted that World Environmental Health Day should go beyond celebration, describing it as an opportunity for professionals to listen, learn, reflect and consider practical ways of advancing the profession while strengthening its contribution to community protection.

Also speaking, Sanitarian Esther Oghenevwegba, Deputy Director, Environment Department, Oshimili South Local Government Area, Asaba, emphasised the need for Environmental Health Officers to understand their value and maintain integrity in the discharge of their professional responsibilities.

Similarly, Sanitarian Eugene Tijani stressed the importance of protecting the identity and dignity of the Environmental Health profession. He described the Environmental Health uniform as an important symbol of professional identity and urged officers to protect that identity, continuously develop themselves and avoid what he described as the “Pull Him Down Syndrome.”

The programme also featured an interactive question-and-answer session, during which participants engaged the speakers and shared perspectives on issues affecting Environmental Health practice and community protection. A major highlight of the celebration was the official launch of EHO’s Guide to Abating Nuisances, the first book authored by Sanitarian Osimade Olayinka Awotola.

The book was officially launched by the Permanent Secretary, Ogun State Ministry of Environment, Dr. Kafayat Lawal, marking another significant moment in the celebration and underscoring the importance of documenting, preserving and sharing professional knowledge within the Environmental Health sector.

The 2026 World Environmental Health Day webinar reinforced the need for stronger evidence-based practice, continuous professional development, adequate manpower, integrity, knowledge sharing and community-focused Environmental Health interventions, with stakeholders emphasising the critical role of Environmental Health Practitioners in preventing disease and protecting public health.