The Anambra State Waste Management Agency has intensified sanitation exercise as part of measures to sustain clean and healthy environment across the State . Paul Ezeoke monitored the exercise in Awka and environs and reports that the areas monitored include Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital Amaku Awka , Ichida axis, Kwata, Udoka Housing Estate and Ifite Road Awka among others, where well kitted personnel of the Agency were seen collecting and disposing refuse from different dump sites and Road Sweepers were also seen at different ends sweeping and collecting waste.

The Managing Director of the Authority Mr Amechi Akora who was seen at Ifite Awka coordinating the exercise said waste management is a critical aspect of the State Government’s comprehensive strategy towards combating COVID -19.

Mr Akora explained that it would be tragic for people to escape COVID -19 only to contract Lassa Fever and other infectious diseases at home and disclosed that the Agency has scaled up daily services across the State to maintain prompt evacuation of waste as well as sustain house to house waste collection at Udoka, Ngozika and other gated Housing Estates to ensure that there are no lapses in environmental care at this critical time.
He urged residents to comply strictly with sit-at-home directives and avoid indiscriminate dumping of refuse while remaining conscious of proper waste management principles to avoid littering the environment to stay save from infection.


Also speaking, the Head of Operations ASWAMA Mr Ike Onyeka said inspite of the Lockdown, the Agency has continued daily evacuation of waste to maintain clean environment and reminded the people of the need to properly bagged their refuse before disposal.


In his reaction, the Chairman Residents Association of Udoka Housing Estate Phase Two ,Engineer Anthony Eze said ASWAMA has remained effective and efficient in keeping the Estate clean as it has sustained prompt and regular evacuation of waste in the area while residents of the area have been well sensitized on proper procedures of waste disposal.