A Professor of Public Health at the University of Ilorin, Gordon Kayode Osagbemi, has called on governments at all levels in the country to enact laws, rules and regulations that govern human activities in the environment, saying that this could reduce the society’s vulnerability to disasters. In the lecture, entitled “Disasters and Public Health Emergencies-Proper Prior Preparations Prevent Poor Performance”, the don cautioned that the laws, when made, may not have effects unless they are enforced and some form of penalty put in place as a deterrent to defaulters. He noted that people tend to abide by laws when it is known that penalties, including deprivation of certain privileges, are there to deal with those who breach them. He suggested that as a way of mitigating disasters, there must be social mobilisation to create awareness and sensitise the various communities on disasters and their effects. Prof. Osagbemi urged the Federal Government to focus on the establishment of the Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Committee to ensure that the vulnerability to and impact of disasters are reduced in the country.

Source: Nigerian Tribune July 01, 2019 14:03 UTC