The Pest Control Association of Nigeria (PECAN) has praised its members for their efforts in decontaminating the environment in the country against the dreaded COVID-19 virus.
Mr Olakunle Williams, the association’s National President, presented the award during the association’s 2021 Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Induction/Training on Wednesday in Lagos.
Members of the association, according to Williams, worked tirelessly during the peak of the COVID-19 restrictions, putting their lives in danger, and some were even ostracized at their homes, offices, and regarded as endangered species.
PECAN members, he claimed, were in the throes of decontaminating the environment against the foreign killer virus.
“When you reflect on the year 2020, you will agree with me that it was one of the worst years in the history of the world, as the year brought about the pandemic aimed at destroying all aspects of the world, including our lives.”
“Over three million lives were lost in the epidemic, so many occupations were gone, and working from home exposed us to so many unique patterns of living.”
“At this point, I’d like to thank you for sacrificing your lives so that the rest of the world could live. You didn’t mind death because you went to the battlefield to fight Covid-19 and came out alive.
“My PECAN Members, you are my heroes and heroines!” “You will accept the fact that we all have reasons to praise God,” Williams said.
Mr Olufemi Taiwo, Chairman of the 2021 PECAN AGM Planning Committee, stated that one way to eliminate quacks in the pest control profession was to engage in constant public sensitization and awareness through the media.
Taiwo advocated for the passage of legislation that would allow fumigator quackery to be punished and prosecuted, claiming that this would go a long way toward eradicating quack controllers in the country.
In a message of good will, experts urged PECAN to engage in vigorous media sensitization to enable Nigerians to contact professional pest controllers and avoid quackery.
His Royal Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ooni of Ife, who was represented by Oba Adekunle Adebowale, Agbolu of Agbaje Ife, praised PECAN’s efforts in Nigeria.
Ogunwusi stated that people in the inter-land were unaware of PECAN and that they usually patronized quackery, urging them to come to the inter-land for an awareness campaign.
He stated that many farmers were in the habit of using dangerous chemicals to preserve their produce and encouraged them to contact him for assistance in furthering the association’s goals.
Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, the wife of Lagos State Governor, also praised the association for its various initiatives and partnerships aimed at standardizing and promoting the Pest and Vector Control industry in Nigeria.
Mrs Mojisola Fashola, who represented Sanwo-Olu, stressed the importance of the association continuing to develop various initiatives to sanitize the sector in the best interests of all.
“To combat quackery in Pest and Vector Management, all necessary will and courage must be mustered.”
“We cannot afford to be subjected to another outbreak of public health emergency,” Sanwo-Olu said. “This eloquently supports the need for all hands to be on deck to stamp out quackery in the country.”
According to the governor’s wife, the state government is implementing various initiatives and making commitments to improve health care delivery in accordance with its “THEMES” Agenda.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Akin Ayobami, who was represented by the Deputy Director of the Environmental Health Office, Mr. Ojo Emmanuel, urged the association not to give up on its efforts to rid the profession of quacks.
Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, General Manager of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), pleaded with PECAN to conduct more awareness activities to encourage Nigerians to use professional pet and vector controllers.
Prof. Rotimi Ogidan, Vice Chancellor of the Open University of Nigeria, represented by Prof. Olufemi Peters, pledged to collaborate with PECAN by using his institution to train more PECAN operators to become professionals.
Mrs Abiola Olusanya, Commissioner for Agriculture, represented by Dr Michael Olufemi, urged PECAN to always differentiate between chemicals used on land and those used on animals.
Dr Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), represented by Dr Idiat Mudasir, stated that NAFDAC would collaborate with PECAN to improve member identification.
In addition, Dr. Vincent Izegbe, Director-General of Nigerian Agriculture Quarantine, who was represented by Dr. Dayo Folorunsho, urged PECAN to improve public awareness through media outlets in order for the public to identify professionals among them.