No be small matter oo! Ogun State government don launch serious health audit for Ogijo community. This one na because dem dey worry about lead exposure wey fit don affect residents since dem shut down seven factories wey dey do lead-acid battery recycling last year.
According to the state Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Ola Oresanya, dem take this decision after dem notice how community dey suffer from possible lead poisoning. E happen after one video go viral wey show the condition for Ogijo. No be joke, as dem stop all export of lead ingots until dem finish proper investigation!
Dem no wan play with health matter, so they involve plenty stakeholders – Health Commissioner, Dr. Tomi Coker, gather everybody chop talk for Ologijo’s Palace. She yarn say dem don collect blood samples from over 500 people wey dem select scientifically make dem check their Blood Lead Levels. Na to ensure say community no dey inhale or receive any bad thing from lead again!
Dr. Coker talk say this matter don attract global attention, as international media don dey shine light on Ogijo. She explain say after dem don see the reports, both Health and Environment Ministries don visit the community to calm everybody down and outline wetin dem go do next.
Omo, dem go engage Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) to lead the audit together with their team wey dey use correct scientific methods. Na dem go ensure say the findings no go get bias, and when dem receive the report, dem go carry am go Governor Dapo Abiodun for any necessary action.
As we dey talk, NIMR don start fieldwork bagi community and don already collect plenty blood samples. E no dey easy, but dem dey make sure say dem check vulnerable groups like pregnant women, children, and those wey don show say blood lead level dey high.
Dr. Coker still yan say some facilities wey dem close don re-open but di Ministry of Health go dey monitor dem kos dem go make sure say they no expose workers to any wahala again. Dem go follow up with regular blood tests to dey check everybody wey dey involve in this kind industries.
Community traditional ruler, Oba Kazeem Gbadamosi, don appreciate the state government for how dem dey handle the matter and him don make promise to the people say dem go cooperate with dem.
All these steps dey show say Ogun government no dey joke with health matter. Dem go continue to dey engage the community based on wetin dem find out from the audit. The future dey bright, as dem dey look for sustainable solutions to the issue!
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