Environmental sanitation has become a prominent issue in Nigeria. Countless sanitation edicts have been promulgated by state governments. Many of these edicts have at least temporarily had considerable impact on the lives of citizens in the major cities.

The state’s preoccupation with sanitation reached a peak in 1985 during the latter months of the Buhari regime, and Environmental Sanitation was chosen as the theme for the fifth phase of the War Against Indiscipline (WAI), announcing a one million naira prize award for the cleanest capital.

Frenzied sanitary activity ensued in all the state capitals, state sanitation task forces were organized, additional sanitation workers were hired to remove rubbish, many permanent piles of rubbish disappeared and drains which had been clogged for years were open.

Plateau State Governor, on the 29th August, 2020. Directed the immediate resuscitation of the monthly environmental sanitation to keep Jos and environs clean.

However, the increasing rate of nonchalance towards sanitation in homes, and communities is deplorable, therefore, It is safe to assert that some communities in the Jos Metropolis and Environment are dirty due to open dumping of solid waste, sewage disposal and clogged drainages, these also makes it possible for many potential vectors breed, eye-sore to public, odor in the immediate environment and environment degradation.

Several communities are faced with various challenges like clogged drainage, rubbish piles, and so on. How can we best curb these issues to better the lives of citizens?

These will serve the bases of our discussion on this edition of village square.

Open defecation, according to Wikipedia, is the human practice of defecating outside (in the open environment) rather than into a toilet. In carrying out this practice, people may make use of fields, bushes, forests, ditches, streets, canals, and perhaps, worse still, rivers, streams or other water sources.

Nigeria is among the nations in the world with the highest number of people practicing Open Defecation, estimated at over 46 million people. The practice has had negative effect on the populace, especially children, in the areas of health and education and had contributed to the country’s failure to meet the MDG target.

The government has tried several strategies to address this problem. In 2008 it adopted an intervention called “Community Led Total Sanitation”. This is a community level intervention aimed at reducing open defecation and improving toilet coverage. It draws in community leaders and ordinary residents so they can understand the risks associated with open defecation. By 2014 the intervention was deployed in all 36 Nigerian states, covering around 16% of the country’s 123,000 communities,

More often than not, people engage in open defecation either because they do not have a toilet readily accessible or due to traditional cultural practices, interestingly, this practice is not limited to inhabitants of rural, underdeveloped areas alone.

Several communities are living with many risk of open defecation, like water borne diseases, preventable deaths, and hamper education and economic growth, and also infringes on people’s privacy and dignity. How can we best curb this issue to ensure a better living for citizens?

These will serve the bases of our discussion on this edition of village square

Women and youth have the power to transform the world when adequately empowered, they have the power to create a better world for all, yet this embedded power is often viewed as a threat, and so they are silenced, ignored and undervalued, leaving them without basic resources like sustainable income and that puts them at the edge.

The world is becoming more complex and there is a sense of urgency to do more to save lives and repair communities destroyed by religious conflict and abject poverty.

Since 2015, TEKAN Peace Desk has trained over 100 women and youth who are marginalized, to learn the skills they need to build their lives, families and communities, with a vision to create better communities in which women and youth can live their lives and reach their full potentials.

TEKAN Peace Desk took the initiative to enable women and youth through the Strengthen and Transforming Attitudes of Resilience in Entrepreneur (STAR-E) program, which first, fosters peace and, secondly empowers and promote their economic and social lives.

The women and youth enrolled in these program breaks the barriers of religious beliefs by joining others of different faith, together they learn practical skills like Catering, cosmetology, hair dressing, tailoring or makeup, depending on their choice, they learn how to run a business while saving money, they gain valuable knowledge about religious tolerance and learn to coexist regardless of religion, and hence, prevent religious violence. Women and youth pass on their knowledge to their children, friends and neighbors, creating a ripple effect for generations. By investing in this sect (women and youth), TEKAN Peace Desk is creating a better community, transcending to a better state, nation and world for all, peacefully and prosperously.

Several communities are faced with various challenges like unemployment, theft, and drugs abuse, this is due to idleness. How can we best curb these issues to better the lives of citizens?

These will serve the bases of our discussion on this edition of village square.

The concept of Primary Health Care (PHC) was formulated by the 134 countries that met at the Alma-Ata Conference in Russia on September 12, 1978 which was organized by the World Health Organization.

Primary Health Care is a part of the three-tier system of health care in Nigeria; these are the Tertiary health care which the Federal Government is in charge, 1 per state, making it 36 hospitals, the Secondary health care, under the state government, 1 per LGA, giving a minimum of 774 General Hospitals and the Primary health care, controlled by the local government, 1 per ward, with an average of 10 wards per LGA, a total of 7,740 will be expected.

Primary Health Care is the first point of contact within the health care system. It is the level at which short-term, uncomplicated health issues should be resolved, it is also the level at which health promotion and education efforts are undertaken, and where patients in need of more specialized services are connected with secondary care.

Nigeria has a relative abundance of Primary Health Care centers, reasonable geographic access to the PHC centers, and relatively high health worker density, however, the performance of the PHC system is hindered by 1. Segment supply chains 2. A lack of financial access to PHC 3. A lack of infrastructure, drugs, equipment and vaccines at the facility level, and 4. Poor health worker performance.

Several communities are faced with various challenges in accessing quality health care. What are the prevailing challenges of Primary Health Care, and how can we curb these issues to better the lives of citizens?

These will serve the bases of our discussion on this edition of village square.

The concept of Primary Health Care (PHC) was formulated by the 134 countries that met at the Alma-Ata Conference in Russia on September 12, 1978 which was organized by the World Health Organization.

Primary Health Care is a part of the three-tier system of health care in Nigeria; these are the Tertiary health care which the Federal Government is in charge, 1 per state, making it 36 hospitals, the Secondary health care, under the state government, 1 per LGA, giving a minimum of 774 General Hospitals and the Primary health care, controlled by the local government, 1 per ward, with an average of 10 wards per LGA, a total of 7,740 will be expected.

Primary Health Care is the first point of contact within the health care system. It is the level at which short-term, uncomplicated health issues should be resolved, it is also the level at which health promotion and education efforts are undertaken, and where patients in need of more specialized services are connected with secondary care.

Nigeria has a relative abundance of Primary Health Care centers, reasonable geographic access to the PHC centers, and relatively high health worker density, however, the performance of the PHC system is hindered by 1. Segment supply chains 2. A lack of financial access to PHC 3. A lack of infrastructure, drugs, equipment and vaccines at the facility level, and 4. Poor health worker performance.

Several communities are faced with various challenges in accessing quality health care. What are the prevailing challenges of Primary Health Care, and how can we curb these issues to better the lives of citizens?

These will serve the bases of our discussion on this edition of village square.

Nigeria, like most developing countries, have poor access to portable and safe drinking water, this is a common problem. Indeed many lives are lost annually to water-borne diseases arising from unmitigated poor access to safe drinking water. Sources have it that one state in Nigeria is heavily infested with 2,647 cases of guinea worm and yet another state with 1,843 cases.

Statistics show that 36% of urban dweller and 61% of rural dwellers are totally un served safe water. Access to potable water is perceived as the greatest problem to 28% of household and 24% of communities.

The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 which specifically focuses on provision of clean water and sanitation by the year 2030.

Water as an essential commodity for every home and every human endeavor is therefore expected to be affordable; water should be a right to be demanded from government by citizens.

However, several communities in Jos and environs are faced with difficulty in accessing safe and quality water supply immediately the rains are over. Is there access to safe and quality water in your community? What are the prevailing challenges and how can we better curb demands for as citizens? These will serve the bases of our discussion on this edition of village square.

Nigeria, like most developing countries, have poor access to portable and safe drinking water, this is a common problem. Indeed many lives are lost annually to water-borne diseases arising from unmitigated poor access to safe drinking water. Sources have it that one state in Nigeria is heavily infested with 2,647 cases of guinea worm and yet another state with 1,843 cases.

Statistics show that 36% of urban dweller and 61% of rural dwellers are totally un served safe water. Access to potable water is perceived as the greatest problem to 28% of household and 24% of communities.

The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 which specifically focuses on provision of clean water and sanitation by the year 2030.

Water as an essential commodity for every home and every human endeavor is therefore expected to be affordable; water should be a right to be demanded from government by citizens.

However, several communities in Jos and environs are faced with difficulty in accessing safe and quality water supply immediately the rains are over. Is there access to safe and quality water in your community? What are the prevailing challenges and how can we better curb demands for as citizens? These will serve the bases of our discussion on this edition of village square.