PECAN Lauds Members’ Sacrifice in Decontaminating Environments Against COVID-19 Virus

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From left: The President of Pest Control Association of Nigeria Mr Kunle Williams His Royal Majesty, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, who was represented by Oba Adekunle Adebowale, Agbolu of Agbaje Ife, the Deputy Director, Environmental Health Officer, Mr Ojo Emmanuel, who represented Commissioner for Healthcare Dr Akin Ayobami, and The First Vice President, Pest Control Association of Nigeria (PECAN), Mr AMOS Odugbesan,during the 32 anniversary and the 2021 Annual General Meeting of PECAN, with the Theme :Quackery in Pest and Vector Management - A Threat to Public Health and Environmental Development held in Ikeja, Lagos on Wednesday.

By DAPO OLAWUNI

The National President, Pest Control Association of Nigeria (PECAN) Mr Olakunle Williams, has hails members sacrifice in decontaminating their environments agianst the killers virus, COVID-19 in the country.

Williams made this known during the 2021 Annual General Meeting and Induction/Training of the Pest Control Association of Nigeria (PECAN) in Lagos on Wednesday.

He said in Nigeria, during these periods, their members worked under tough COVID-19 restrictions , endangering their lives and even some were ostracised at homes, offices and regarded as endangered species.

Williams said as a result of their profession of being Professional Pest Controllers, they were in the midst of the heat of decontaminating our environment against this foreign killer Virus .

“In reflecting on the past year 2020 ,you will agree with me that it was one of the worst years ever in the history of the world as the year has brought about the pandemic aiming at ruining all the facets of the world, including our lives.

Over three million lives lost in the pandemic, so many jobs lost , we were introduced to so many unusual patterns of life by working from home

“At this juncture, I would like to appreciate you for volunteering your lives for the world to live. You didn’t mind death, you went to the battlefield to fight Covid-19 and came out alive.

“You are my heroes and heroines – my PECAN Members! You will accept the fact that, we all have reasons to praise God,” he said.

The Chairman, planning Committee of the 2021 AGM of PECAN, Mr Olufemi Taiwo, noted that one of the ways to eliminate quacks in the pest control profession was to engage in constant public sensitisation and awareness through the media.

Taiwo called for enactment of laws to enable fumigator quackery to be punished and prosecuted which he said would go a long way in eradicating quack controllers in the country.

In a good will message, expert urged PECAN to engage media awareness to enable Nigerian get in touch with the Professionals pest controllers and neglect quackery.

His Royal Majesty, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, who was represented by Oba Adekunle Adebowale, Agbolu of Agbaje Ife, commended the effort of PECAN in Nigeria.

Ogunwusi aid that they in the inter-land were not aware of PECAN saying that they usually patronise quackery and urged them to come to the inter-land.

He testified that many of the farmers used dangerous chemicals in preserving their produce and asked them to free free to request for his assistance for the progress of the association.

The Fist Lady, Lagos State, Mrs Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu commended the association for the various initiatives and partnerships geared towards the standardization and promotion of the pest and Vector Control industry in Nigeria.

Sanwo-Olu who was represented by Mrs Mojisola Fashola, expressed need foe the association to continue to come up with various initiatives to sanitize the sector in the best interest of all.

“Every necessary will and courage must be mustered to fight quackery in Pest and Vector Management.

” We cannot afford to be subjected to another outbreak of public health emergency, and this eloquently supports the the need for all hands to be on deck to stamp out quackery in the country,”Sanwo-Olu said.

Sanwo-Olu said that the state government was undergoing various initiatives and commitment of the present administration to enhance health care delivery in line with Themes Agenda.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Akin Abayomi, who was represented Deputy Director, Environmental Health Officer, Mr Ojo Emmanuel urged the association not to relent effort in eradicating quack controllers from their professions.

The General Manager, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, pleaded with PECAN to carry out more awareness to make Nigerians patronise professional pet and Vector controllers.

The Vice Chancellor, Open University, Prof. Rotimi Ogidan who was represented by Prof. Olufemi Peters, pledged to collaborate with PECAN bu using his institution in training more PECAN operators to. Become professionals.

The Commissioner for Agric, Mrs Abiola Olusanya, who was represented by Dr Michael Olufemi, used PECAN to always differentiate chemicals they used for both land and animals.

The Director General of National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Dr Mojisola Adeyeye,
Who was represented by Dr Idiat Mudasir, said the NAFDAC would collaborate with PECAN for better identification of their members.

The Director General, Nigerian Agric Quarantine, Dr Vincent Izegbe, who was represented by Dr Dayo Folorunsho, urged PECAN to improve on public enlightenment through the media outlet to enable public to identify professionals among them.

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