Felicia Ojo, one of the few female among the numerous health workers of Alimosho Local Government fumigating markets and public places in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak speaks on the joy of the job with Adeola Ogunlade.
IT’S one full week into the lockdown in Lagos and the need to rid Lagos of the deadly coronavirus by way of fumigation just got underway. Environmental Health workers of Alimosho Local Government were hard at work, fumigating public places. For upward of six hours, their effort was concentrated on the Iyana Ipaja main market, one of the largest in the state. The effort is to consolidate the social distancing directive and lockdown/stay at home order of the state and federal government.
Among the workers was a woman, Cecilia Ojo, a native of Osun State, who spoke to The Nation about her commitment and fulfilment in participating in the fumigation of the market alongside her male colleagues.
She said, “I grew up in Osun State where Environmental Health workers fondly called Wole Wole came to our house unannounced and we oftentimes, took to our heels as children to hide in our various parents’ rooms. Our surrounding was mainly bushes but they must not see dirt in the vicinity. I however admired their efforts at ensuring that our homes and environment were clean. My father, after they would have left, would tell us that they were sanitary inspectors and they wanted us to clean our environment. My father would emphasise that it was for the good of the community and nothing to be afraid of. He would thereafter tell us to clean the house and our surroundings. As a girl, I was given my portion of work to do and I enjoyed it.”
This may have been part of what shaped Ceclia’s career choice, as she ended up studying Environmental Health Services at Osun State College of Environment, where she graduated in 2005. That same year, she got a job at Ministry of Environment and was posted to Alimosho Local Government
“I am here to do what l love best.” She said with the enthusiasm of one who knows that the survival of a city may depend on her little contribution.
“We mix the chemicals to be used for the exercise together and we get set to work. I feel fulfilled working with my colleagues on this noble exercise. I was trained in school as a preventive officer, in case there is an outbreak of disease such as this. Monitoring, research and disinfection is part of our work. We have also been trained on how to mount the machine, mix appropriate chemicals to disinfect the infected areas.” She said.
Admitting her physical disadvantage as a woman in a male-dominated vocation, Ojo said, “I don’t have the strength like them, but I am trained to support them. We are here to break the chain of transmission of COVID-19 in Lagos State. We don’t want the virus to spread through the communities. That is why we’re following the order of the President Muhamadu Buhari to fumigate our markets, major streets, bus-stops and other public places within the local government – particularly during the two weeks lock down.”
Ojo added that the joy of her work is being on the field and trying to keep the environment safe.
“My joy is that by the time we finish our work, the World Health Organisation would give Lagos State a clean bill of health and tell the world that Lagos State has done well.”
Leave a Reply