Experts harp on public health standards in Nigeria

Prevention has for long been viewed by experts as the most sustainable way to engender disease prevention. In achieving this, the role of cleaning professionals cannot be overemphasised, given the critical role they play in keeping public places free of germs and other disease-causing organisms.

“It is our responsibility as a cleaning and hygiene service company to promote cleanliness and hygiene in our environment. We have stewardship responsibilities to our clients and the people who move in and out of the public spaces where we provide our services,” states Nneka Unachukwu, managing director, Avant Facility Cleaning Services.

The need for more specific cleaning regime based on the peculiarities of the location is also very important in the achievement of desired health and hygiene outcomes.

ISSA, the leading international association for the cleaning industry worldwide, has identified that many facilities do not clean as frequently as needed to adequately reduce public health risk. Currently, there are no industry standards, due to the high degree of variability from one facility to another. Therefore, each facility manager needs to individually determine their cleaning frequencies based on factors such as number of occupants or amount of traffic, surfaces, age of the building, geographic factors, weather factors, availability of cleaning personnel and budget constraints.

With the recent Ebola Virus Disease scare in Nigeria, significant questions were raised about Nigerians and their attention to hygiene management.

Unachukwu notes, “Obviously the Ebola situation provides more reasons for all Nigerians to promote health and cleanliness, but we think it goes far beyond the Ebola situation. The situation has been well managed by governments across all levels, but the challenge this throws at all stakeholders is one of ensuring that we act to ensure that we engender positive public health outcomes.”

She called on cleaning practitioners to undertake intensive training for all Janitors, since it’s their core responsibility to ensure proper cleaning procedures are followed to avoid cross-contamination.

“It is important they maintain high cleaning standards in the various facilities they maintain. The use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and cleaning sanitizers while cleaning restrooms and similar areas shouldn’t be overlooked. As cleaning professionals, we need to always work closely with our clients to ensure optimal hygiene and cleanliness,” she stressed.

The company recently distributed free hand sanitizers to people in the Lagos metropolis, an activity that also provided an opportunity for the staff of the company to educate members of the public on the importance of public health.

“We have a responsibility to the environment where we do our business. We need to be good corporate citizens and it is one of our cardinal business principles to always be that,” Unachukwu stressed.

Springfield police recruits spend rainy Saturday re-greening and cleaning up city park in gang-plagued Bay Neighborhood

With a determination to give back to the city they intend to protect and serve upon graduation from the academy, a group of Springfield police recruits spent time Saturday morning cleaning and planting trees at two local parks.

As the rain fell steadily around 9 a.m., the group stayed busy by digging holes to house the heavy root balls of new trees that are intended to beautify Hennessy Park in the city's Bay Neighborhood.

"We're planting a mix of shade trees and ornamental trees, and the recruits are cleaning up the overgrown brush along the exterior fence of the park," said Ed Casey, the City of Springfield's forester. "I've worked with a lot of volunteer groups over the years, but these guys have been great. I think it's great they are out here spending time in the neighborhoods before they start on the force."

The group of recruits reached out to the non-profit tree advocacy organization ReGreen Springfield for its community service project, which they must complete ahead of graduation, which is scheduled to happen three weeks from now. Based on his history volunteering with that non-profit, recruit Andrew Normand said he was pleased he was able to connect his class with ReGreen Springfield to plant more than a dozen new trees in a neighborhood plagued by gangs and gun-related violence.

Hennessey Park cleanup in Springfield
10-11-2014-SPRINGFIELD- As the rain fell steadily around 9 a.m. Saturday, a group of Springfield police recruits stayed busy by digging holes to house the heavy root balls of 18 new trees that are intended to beautify the area of Hennessy Park in the city's Bay Neighborhood. (Robert Rizzuto / The Republican)
Robert Rizzuto | rrizzuto@repub.com
"As soon as we started talking about a community service project, the first thing that came to mind was ReGreen Springfield," Normand said. "I couldn't have asked for better partners to be out here working with."

The efforts Saturday also extended to Kenyon Street, which abuts the park and has a mixed bag of single and multi-family homes. In addition to cleaning up the area, the recruits also planted new trees along its tree belt.

Chances are once the recruits graduate and take on roles within the Springfield Police Department, they will be coming back to the area of Hennessey Park, which is just south of Sycamore Street. A search of the MassLive archives highlights several instances where the park and its surrounding streets were the subject of gang-related violence and gun fire reports over the years

Based on the neighborhood's reputation as a trouble spot, the city has been paying it extra attention to make the climate unfavorable for gang members and improve the quality of life for the law-abiding residents who call the area home.

Over the summer, the Springfield Police ordinance squad conducted a massive sweep of the area, issuing 76 citations for violations ranging from having overgrown lawns and shrubbery to having unregistered vehicles and old mattresses lying around private property. Additionally, Hennessey Park was the location of the 2014 Community Family Day in July where police held a picnic for the families in the neighborhood, letting them know that although gangs run the streets in the neighborhood, they are not alone.

Following the work in the Bay Neighborhood, the group planned to head to Adams Park on Wilbraham Road to work. Depending on the weather, the group planned to give some of the playground equipment there a fresh coat of paint and clean up overgrown brush on the grounds.

Clerk reviews security procedures after worker allegedly steals cash

Security precautions in the Oak Ridge office of Anderson County General Sessions Court are under review after an employee of a cleaning service found the key to a locked cash drawer in the court's office on Tuesday and stole $750, according to authorities.

Oily Rag: It's easy to get your 5 a day

The mailbags are full again. This week the tips range from a "feel-like-Cleopatra" face cleaner to keeping your pot plants well watered.

Marie from Rotorua has this tip about face cleaner. "The best face cleaner you can get is ground almonds -- from the bulk foods section at Pak'nSave. Make a thick paste with milk, and just before using add a quarter teaspoon of salt. Rub fairly gently on your skin at first as it is abrasive. Wash off with warm water. Makes you face feel like Cleopatra and her bath of milk."

Marie also has this unusual way of titivating silverbeet. "Silverbeet is our favourite vegetable. Wash well, chop very roughly and steam. Do not boil or overcook. Add a sprinkle of sugar and a sprinkle of nutmeg. Delicious."

Nikita from Taupo has these tips for introducing fruit and vegetables into the family diet. "Growing up I lived with my grandparents. I always had cereal with tinned fruit for breakfast, two pieces of fruit in my lunch plus a sandwich which normally had lettuce or something like that on it, and a piece of fruit when I got home from school.


For dinner Nana used to mix potato and kumara or pumpkin in a mash, and at least two other veges. So it's not hard to get lots of fruit and veges into your diet.

"I always went along to the supermarket and helped choose the fruit I wanted that week which made me more inclined to eat it. Now it's just a habit to eat lots of fruit and veges every day."

Now for another tip on cleaning dentures. J.M.L. from Whangarei writes, "To clean dentures use a teaspoon each of citric acid and baking soda. I found if I mixed these together in a container they hardened, so I keep them in separate containers. Put dentures in cup, add citric acid and baking soda, then cover with hot water. It will fizz when water is added. Rinse with clean water. Occasionally you will need to give dentures a clean with a toothbrush and just baking soda."

Jill from Dannevirke has a suggestion for the reader who had cat invasion problems. "I have successfully used Jeyes Fluid to deter cats. Sprinkle undiluted on the area targeted by the cats, but be sure to clean the area up first. You may have to repeat a time or two, but cats hate it. It also works for dogs. Jeyes Fluid can be hard to find, but I bought some recently." (Jeyes Fluid is a multi-purpose cleaner and disinfectant that is used for a wide range of garden and outdoor cleaning jobs.)

J from Paraparaumu has this tip for getting out the last of the cream from containers. "Instead of cutting the top off a hand or body cream container put it in the microwave for about ten seconds, then pour the contents into a new container. Works well for makeup and other products."

KASW from Waikanae says, "Baby wipes are wonderful for removing fly-spots from walls and ceilings."

John from Whangarei says he got a number of great tips from his latest gardening magazine. "To keep pot plants watered, punch a column of small holes down the side of a thin plastic bottle. Bury it with the top poking above the soil, and the holes facing the plant. Fill it e up and it will act like a reservoir and drip feed plants."

Spring is a really busy time in the garden, so let us know if you have any garden tips to share.

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