Tomorrow
is another occasion for the regular National Cleansing Exercise.
As
we plan for it, let us have this in mind: we have made significant strides in
keeping our environment healthy over the years, mainly as a result of the
monthly cleansing exercise, also known as set settal, introduced by the
President and the government of the day.
This
has contributed greatly to keeping our environment healthy and safe, so that our
nation is commended internationally for doing well in health and hygiene.
A
case in point is the 2015 African Leaders Malaria Alliance award (ALMA) for
excellence in implementation of vector control, given to seven countries in
Africa including The Gambia, at the recently concluded 24th ordinary session of
the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
However,
we still have a long way to go in maintaining a clean and healthy environment,
as we continue to irrationally pour or dispose of our dirt and rubbish on the
streets and other public places in our towns and communities.
For
instance, we have developed the habit of pouring and throwing filth on the
streets and public places so much that we don’t even calculate the degree of
dirtiness and health hazard we cause ourselves.
It
is just too simple or normal for people or passengers in a taxi and other
commercial vehicles to throw through the window dirt and filth of any kind on
the street, as they move on. Pedestrians and residents of compounds do the same
outside of premises.
It
could be groundnut shells, coconut shells, mango seed, cigarette stick, paper,
food or juice can, anything disposable; and we are fine with that.
These
things cause serious dirt and filth in our environment and cause us health
hazard, which gives a negative impression about our person and nation.
They
sell the image of our nation badly, especially to visitors and strangers. A
guest, they say, sees more in an hour than a host in a year. So we must be
mindful of our environment.
There
is an anti-littering Act in place with penalties for disposing filth and dirt
just anywhere in our environment and around town, but it hardly bites or even
barks at offenders.
However,
as decent people, we would do ourselves so much good if we could stop this
negative habit, and be mindful of how and where we dispose the dirt and filth
we generate.
Drivers,
especially of commercial vehicles, apprentice and passengers should practise
resisting the temptation of throwing our rubbish or dirt out of the window of
vehicles, when travelling or driving.
We
should keep our dirt in a safe place to be disposed of in an appropriate
location marked for that.
Furthermore,
to control this habit, it is essential that we maintain dust-bins and trash
cans/containers at strategic and public places to dispose of the dirt we
generate, for onward clearance by public workers of area councils and
departments responsible for that.
Again
there is need for the general public, the private sector, CSOs, NGOs, and other
donors to intensify their support, as well as direct some amount of corporate
social responsibility - CSR support, to this endeavour of procuring and placing
dust-bins and trash cans around town for easy access to dirt depositories.
The
government can’t do it all alone.
We
should all put hands on deck to curb this menace, and keep our environment and
cities and country clean. It is essential for our health, and it is also a show
of decency, intelligence and Godliness.
It
makes it all the more necessary in this period of the rainy season.
"Keep
the city clean"
The
Point
