The Lagos State Government is to intensify public enlightenment on health hazards of air pollution as it works closely with the World Bank to address the impact.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, gave the assurance at the 2018 Ministerial Press Briefing at Alausa, Ikeja.

“We must enlighten the public because virtually every health problem has a source from the environment.

“How we dispose of our waste and how we clean our environment are a shared responsibility,” Idris said.

He spoke against the backdrop of the Olusosun Dumpsite in Ojota, Lagos, which has become a public health issue due to pollution of air.

According to the commissioner, air pollution is not peculiar to the state, but a problem that any developing, overpopulated country or state can face.

“As a government, we realise and appreciate the health impact of air pollution; what we have done so far is to enlighten the public and we will intensify that.

“As a state, physical planning and environment are main issues, but all these cost money; we can only do what we have resources for.

“We are working closely with the World Bank to address the health impact of this pollution.

“Health is a shared responsibility. For the ministry, our major role will be more of public enlightenment.

“We shall do our bit and enlighten the person; that is the best way to address the issue of pollution,” he said.

The commissioner said that primary health care was the bedrock of the health system in the country, and therefore, should be the first point of call for the residents.

“People tend to equate it with only physical infrastructure.

"The key aspect of primary health care is community engagement. You do not have to start building structures to run it.

“Some other key aspects of primary health care that people always forget include nutrition, water supply, sanitation and environment;

“It is a continuum; that is where we are going. How we address it depends on our innovation, technology and public health,” the official said.

On mental health, Idris said that the ministry was intensifying efforts to address it, adding that it had updated the state’s mental health law.

“We have a mental health policy; we are currently introducing our mental health programmes to cover all tiers of healthcare.

“This is comprehensive, and we are calling on the media to disseminate information. There is a major mental health problem in the country,” Idris said. (NAN)

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