DESIRE LORDSON
Some vulnerable women in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, especially in Umuechem and Abara communities, have called for actions to mitigate environmental pollution in the Niger Delta region.
Women leader of Umuechem; Mrs. Goodness Godwin, including those with disabilities, Miss Assumpter Ebiokwu and somenothers, decried the hardship they had faced due to harmful environmental practices in the area.
They narrated how the impact of environmental pollution has exposed them to various forms of diseases, despite their inability to access basic amenity, including healthcare.
An Environmentalist who is also the Coordinator, Centre for Environment, Media Development Communications, CEMEDEC; Chief Constance Meju, also wants the Government to ensure that the people of the Niger Delta region, enjoy a healthy environment.
A representative of the Rivers State Ministry of Health, Mrs. Ordu Ada and another Environmentalist, Mrs. Rita Kigbara on their part, pointed at some disadvantages of polluted environment.
Convener of the forum supportted by Global Greengrant fund, the Coordinator, Healthy Life Development Initiative, HELDI; Dr. Mfon Utin and the Zonal Director of the National Oil Spill and Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA; Mr. Imeh Ekanem, represented by Mr. Ukpenevi Solomon, shared concerns on the importance to restoring the ecosystem.
They also called for tree planting, amongst other adaptive measures to alleviate the effects of climate change.
