BRIEF REPORT of Female sanitarians for a Healthy Community at Ajah Market

Topic of the Day: Market Clean -up and Advocacy
Date : Thursday, October 9, 2025
Location: Ajah Market, Lekki, Lagos

Organized by Environmental Health Officers Association of Nigeria (EHOAN)-Women’s wing, Lagos Chapter
Led by
-San . Olukunga Bilikisu (Chairperson)
-San. Sulaiman Olabisi
-San. Shofoluke Francisca
-San. Kuye Hannah
-San. Olatunde Fisayo
-San. Elvis Abiodun

Objective : To Promote Environmental sanitation and Healthy Living among market stakeholders

The EHOAN Women’s Wing Lagos Chapter, in conjunction with all the Female Sanitarian in District 111 ,The District Director in person of Mrs Anjorin and all the Female HOD’s in District
111, carried out a Market Clean-up and Sanitation Advocacy exercise at Ajah Market to promote hygiene,Environmental responsibility and disease prevention among traders and the Market users
.

The exercise involved awareness creation, waste management education, and inspection of sanitation conditions within the market premises.

Nuisances Detected:

1. Accumulation of waste at the center median within the market.
2. Evidence of rat infestation, indicating poor waste handling and food storage practices.
3. Dirty and silted in-market drainage, causing blockage and poor flow.
4. Emission of obnoxious odor from decomposing waste and stagnant water.
5. Potholes retaining stagnant water, serving as breeding sites for mosquitoes.

Recommendations:

1. Immediate evacuation of accumulated waste and regular clearing of refuse from the median.
2. Desilting and maintenance of drainages within and around the market to allow proper flow of stormwater.
3. Rodent control (rat baiting and trapping) should be carried out periodically by certified pest control agents.
4. Repair and leveling of potholes to prevent water stagnation and mosquito breeding.
5. Establish a market sanitation committee to coordinate daily waste collection by the registered PSP operators and ensure traders comply with hygiene regulations.
6. Provision of covered waste bins at strategic points within the market to discourage open dumping.
   7. Continuous environmental health education and advocacy for traders on waste segregation, personal hygiene, and food safety.

Monitoring and Evaluation:
• Weekly monitoring by Environmental Health Officers to assess compliance with sanitation practices.
•follow-up visits to ensure the sustainability of waste management measures.
• Periodic review meetings with market leaders and Environmental Health Officers to evaluate progress.
• Use of photographic documentation to track improvements in environmental conditions over time.
•Submission of quarterly reports to the Lagos State Environmental Health Directorate for further support and policy action.

Conclusion:
The Ajah Market Clean-Up and Sanitation Advocacy demonstrated the commitment of the EHOAN Women’s Wing, Lagos Chapter, to promoting a clean, safe, and healthy trading environment in Lagos markets.
Continuous collaboration between EHOs, market authorities, and waste management agencies is essential for sustaining these gains.

💚 Clean Environment, Healthy Nation! Female Sanitarian for a healthy community