‘Environmental Degradation Posing Serious Public Health Risks’

Adinoyi in Jos

Medical Laboratory Scientists have urged the federal government to take urgent steps towards addressing environmental degradation and pollution, warning that they pose serious public health risks nationwide.

The warning came at the 19th Annual Public Health Lecture of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN), held at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Jos, Plateau State.

Speaking at the event National President of AMLSN, Dr. Casmir Ifeanyi, described environmental pollution as “a public health emergency” that must be taken seriously.

He said: “Environmental health is foundational to public health. When our air is unsafe to breathe, our water unsafe to drink, and our lands unsafe to farm, then the very fabric of community health is compromised.”

Highlighting the widespread impact of environmental contaminants from illegal mining in Plateau, Zamfara, and Niger states to oil spills and gas flaring in the Niger Delta on public health, Ifeanyi linked them to respiratory diseases, cancers, and childhood lead poisoning seen among Nigerians.

“The public health significance of this issue is profound. Contaminants from mining activities introduce heavy metals into the food chain, causing neurological, renal, and reproductive disorders. Airborne particulates from gas flaring trigger cardiovascular ailments and cancers. Polluted water fosters vector-borne diseases and undermines maternal and child health”, he warned.

He therefore, called for a review and strict enforcement of environmental laws, curbing of illegal mining and oil exploration, and greater involvement of medical laboratory scientists in environmental disaster response.

“Our choice of Plateau State is symbolic. “It is both a reflection of Nigeria’s natural blessings and a cautionary tale of how environmental mismanagement turns wealth into tragedy. What should be a blessing has, for many communities, turned into a curse,” he added.

He urged the Plateau State Government to strengthen its Directorate of Medical Laboratory Services, provide vehicles and funding for medical outreaches, and allocate land for a permanent AMLSN secretariat.

In a keynote address, Plateau State Deputy Governor, Josephine Piyo, represented by the Chief Medical Director of Plateau Specialist Hospital, Prof. Christopher Yilgwan, stressed the need for collective action.

Piyo said: “Environmental degradation in low-income communities worsens health outcomes. Climate change, air and water pollution, deforestation, and soil damage contribute to rising mortality and disease rates.”

She called for a shift to clean energy, sustainable agriculture, and improved waste management systems, alongside community education and policy reforms.

“If we understand these causes and effects, and work together to pursue sustainable solutions, we can create a better future for our communities and our planet,” she added.

Chairman of the occasion, Theodore Maiyaki (SAN) expressed optimism that the public lecture would spark fresh ideas for addressing pollution and promote healthier, more prosperous communities.

Maiyaki also highlighted the growing challenges in Nigeria’s healthcare system, including inadequate infrastructure, poor diagnostics, underfunding, weak technology integration, and brain drain.

The event brought together stakeholders committed to addressing environmental health risks and promoting public health through collaborative action.