The Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) is set on inter-institutional collaboration in building a cleaner and healthier State.
The Managing Director, Dr. Ibimina Wokoma, stated this when the agency hosted students of the PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt on Thursday on a courtesy call aimed at expanding their knowledge of the Agency’s operations and the critical link between waste management, public health, and medical practice.
As a PhD holder in Environmental Management and Economics, Dr. Wokoma noted that under his leadership, RIWAMA has continued to open its doors to students from several universities for knowledge-based engagement, research, and practical exposure to the Agency’s operations and modern waste management systems.
In the interactive session, the Managing Director presented RIWAMA’s Waste Management Plan, emphasizing important strategies such as to includ strengthened waste collection and disposal systems across Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, and environs, as well as plans to take over waste collection along gateway sections of the State.
Also discussed were Public sensitization and community participation in sanitation and waste segregation, creation of Job opportunities through massive engagement of Private Service Providers who will handle house to house waste collection.
Partnerships with stakeholders, organizations, and academic institutions to promote and ensure best practices and the introduction of recycling and waste-to-wealth initiatives were captured.Dr. Wokoma stressed that effective waste management is central to disease prevention, infection control, and environmental health areas directly tied to medicine and healthcare delivery.
He urged the students to serve as ambassadors of environmental hygiene in their future practice as medical professionals.Speaking on behalf of the students, the student lead thanked RIWAMA for the opportunity, describing the visit as enlightening and relevant to their training in public and community health.
RIWAMA reiterated its commitment to sustained collaboration with academic institutions to foster innovation, research, and capacity building in environmental health and waste management across Rivers State.
