The Nasarawa State Government, in collaboration with Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL), has initiated coordinated action to prevent the impact of lead poisoning, especially in cosmetics, mining and battery-recycling communities across the state.
The initiative was disclosed during a three-day sensitisation workshop organised by the Ministry of Health, in partnership with Resolve to Save Lives, held in Lafia.
Speaking at the closing of the event on Wednesday, Dr Peter Attah, Director of Public Health at the Ministry of Health, said lead has no safe level of exposure and children under years years, pregnant women, and artisans are most at risk.
The Director explained that Lead poisoning causes irreversible brain damage, learning disabilities, anaemia, and kidney problems their focus must be on prevention because if the damage occurs it cannot be reversed.
He said the state would scale up collaboration with relevant authorities to enforce the existing laws with respect to the quantity of lead in cosmetics and other products in the market.
He further explained that the state would enhance public awareness in high-risk Local Government Areas (LGAs) like Karu, Kokona, Nasarawa, Nassarawa-Eggon and Wamba among others where artisanal mining activities are happening.
Attah advised residents to wash their hands before eating, keep children away from mining sites, and report suspected lead exposure symptoms like persistent fatigue, stomach pain, or developmental delays at the nearest health facility.
The Director of Public Health further said that the state had decided to adopt a multi-sectoral approach to develop an action plan that would guide towards preventing lead poisoning amaneting from heavy metals in the state.
“The participants were carefully selected from the various Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Media, Security agencies, partners and regulating agencies
“The participants are to develop a strategic action plan capable of preventing lead-related illness from cosmetics, mining and other heavy metals,” Attah said.
Also speaking, Dr Nanlop Ogbureke, Executive Director, RTSL, said that the organisation is intervening in Nasarawa, Kwara, Niger, Kano and Lagos in collaboration with the state government of the benefiting states aimed at eliminating lead poisoning in consumables.
She said that the strategic action plan would serve as a roadmap for enlightening people thereby eliminating lead poisoning from cosmetics and other consumable products.
She noted that Resolve to Save Lives is currently implementing its lead poisoning prevention project in five states of Lagos, Kano, Kwara, Niger and Nasarawa States,
Also speaking, Dr Johnbaptist Ezenduka, Senior Technical Advisor on Lead Poisoning Prevention to RTSL, highlighted the sources of lead poisoning, its health effects, economic implications, testing, and treatment.
He commended the Nasarawa State House of Assembly for being the second in the country to pass the Public Health Security Law, noting that the legislation would go a long way in addressing health-related challenges, including lead poisoning.
Participants at the workshop were drawn from the ministries of Health, Environment, Agriculture, Justice, Information, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Media, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) National Agency of Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and partners among others.
The highlight of the workshop included the development of a strategic action plan for the prevention of lead poisoning in Nasarawa State. (NAN).
