The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Uyo Operations Office, joined the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Akwa Ibom State Branch, in a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) awareness program held at the Akpan Andem Market, Uyo.
The program, themed “WASH and Sanitation,” was organized as part of activities marking the 2025 World Humanitarian Day Celebration.
The awareness campaign featured a market walk and sensitization exercise, where Red Cross humanitarian volunteers, NEMA officials led by Mrs. Eme Etim, and other stakeholders engaged traders, shoppers, and market users on the importance of proper sanitation, regular handwashing, and safe hygiene practices as preventive measures against diseases and for promoting healthy living.
Awareness placards carrying key health messages were strategically displayed to reinforce the campaign theme. The Red Cross team, led by Umoh Anita, sensitized the market community on the dangers of poor sanitation, indiscriminate waste disposal, and open defecation. They highlighted the link between good sanitation practices and the prevention of waterborne diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, and typhoid, while also emphasizing the wider benefits of environmental cleanliness for healthier communities.
The event further underscored the critical role of humanitarian actors in addressing public health challenges and emphasized the responsibility of communities in ensuring cleaner and safer environments.
18th August 2025
