SWIPHA educates community on negative impacts of improper waste disposal

The need for a clean environment and proper waste disposal came to the fore recently as Swiss Pharma Nigeria Limited, one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria, demonstrated with a clean-up and education campaign on adverse effects of living in an unhealthy environment.

While pointing out that the advantages of living in a healthy environment cannot be overemphasised,  the company noted that a good hygiene regimen in an unhealthy environment is tantamount to living unhealthy.

The environmental challenge, which led to the clean-up campaign had been lingering for almost three years following a heavy rainfall which occurred on  May 9, 2019, and left the premises of Swipha on Dopemu road severely flooded, forcing the company to shut down operations for hours out of fear of the risk of explosion and electrical hazards because of the unending overflow of water, which extended into the utility building.

The cause of the flood was traced to the heaps of refuse  blocking the mesh inside the drainages. The company subsequently met with the community leaders on the need to fix the damaged mesh, which was due to the refuse being dumped in the drainage.

The state government, through the ministry of environment, between January and July, 2022,  reconstructed the drainage while pledging to tackle the problem of indiscriminate waste disposal.

But as part of its corporate social responsibility, the company moved to tackle the problem of indiscriminate waste disposal and  appointed Recycle Points Limited, a Waste Recycling and Social Benefit Venture, to lead the clean-up and education campaign.

According to the Managing Director of Swipha, Frederic Lieutaud, “As a pharmaceutical company, which prides itself on the well-being of people and environment, we took it upon ourselves to encourage a cleaner environment for all by appointing Recycle Points Limited to handle execution of the project”.

“This, we have done in our efforts to sustain the good relationship we have built over the years,” Lieutaud said.

Managing Director of Recycle Points, Taiwo Adewole, expressed appreciation to the Swipha boss for the opportunity saying  “It is a thing of pride to  lead the clean-up campaign,  which provided an opportunity to educate the community on the adverse effects of improper waste disposal, which include flooding and diseases,  as well as the benefits of recycling beyond revenue generation”.

The  developments have seen positive changes in the community with the drainage now flowing freely and clean as the people have stopped  dumping refuse in it and regularly evacuated it during weekly sanitation days.

Besides, the wastes have also become a means of income for members of the community with the monthly collection of recyclable materials from the  bin hosts, as each item collected is weighed based on classification and  values presented either as cash or a list of food or household items available.

Lieutaud added that collectors are rewarded with food items, while no fewer than  10 DORI Bins are allocated to selected bin posts.

The Swipha boss said the exercise was done in collaboration with the community head and high Chiefs.  He added that he hosts will continue to receive monthly allowances for their role as collectors and for providing recyclable materials.

He expressed hope that the community  would keep up the good work.