AN OPEN LETTER OF APPEAL TO THE GOVERNOR OF RIVERS STATE:

We congratulate you, the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Chf. Barr. Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike (Mr. Projects) for all the developmental project still ongoing in the state, especially the Judges residence, Buses for Div. 6 Army, etc. Its laudable.
However, we want to draw your attention to the near extinction of ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICE in Rivers State, especially. The fact that new recruitments have not been made for more than too long. All those Environmental Health  professionals currently in Rivers State government have all grown to very most senior levels without younger Environmental Health professionals to learn from the seniors and eventually take over from them. More of the very experienced Environmental Health Professionals would be retiring in about two or three months yet non to learn from them and take over to ensure efficient Environmental Health and sanitation services..
To this end, permit us to chronicle some basic /immediate items you need urgently attend to so as to enhance the fast dwindling environmental sanitation situation and also better the lots of
Environmental Health Officers in Rivers State:

1.) Urgent employment of at least 1000 new Environmental Health Officers to manage Environmental Health and Sanitation matters that is currently nose-diving in Rivers State.

2.) Provision of a well equipped Rivers State Environmental Health Laboratory within Port Harcourt or its near Environs for quick administration of Environmental Health Services in Rivers State.
This should be accompanied also by a well equipped mobile Environmental Health laboratory (on wheels) to help  disease surveillance, prevention/control.

3.) Provision of a Standard, well equipped Environmental Health Library and study center to boost learning and research in Environmental Health.

4.) Provision of noise and air quality monitoring equipments and devices to help control and manage the crazy noise and air pollution issues in Rivers State. Also needful are all relevant Environmental Health Management equipment being used in other parts of the world including a complete multimedia presentation devices eg still pictures/video cameras, projectors and screens etc

5.) Sponsor Environmental Health Officers to training and development within and outside nigeria  so as to be abreast with modern realities of Environmental Health in other parts of the scientifically  advanced world.

6.) Appoint retired/serving Environmental Health officers into Environmental / projects monitoring/ Management committees of the state government.

7.) Effect appointment of Environmental Health professionals (not politicians) as commissioner of Environment, water resources etc  and also in the boards of RIWAMA, water board, water regulatory commission and RSEPA  amongst others. This would yield better results and tend to professionalize the afore mentioned services.

8.) Provision of buses, pick up trucks and other official vehicles for effective monitoring,  Enlightenment and quick dispensation of Environmental Health services in Rivers state.

9.) Provision of complete sets Uniforms for serving Environmental Health Officers.

10.) Create/establish a department of Environmental Health in Rivers State University and University Of Port Harcourt to run and award graduate and post graduate degrees in Environmental Health an related fields.
Also, its very imperative that some Environmental Health Officers of Rivers Origin should be sponsored abroad to study post graduate courses in in Environmental Health; Epidemiology and Environmental Toxicology up to PHD level so we could soon raise relevant professors to man the courses in our state university and Uniport inclusive

Finally, sir, I assure you that if you meet the afore needs of Environmental Health in Rivers state, your name would be engraved in gold as the only Governor that was able to surpassed oyakhilome's unbeaten record in Environmental Health and Sanitation in Rivers State.
Thank you sir.
- EHSadvisor.