12/08/2026
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH EMPLOYMENT: EVERY PRACTITIONER HAS A ROLE TO PLAY
Good day to all followers and lovers of Environmental Health profession. Welcome to another episode of Environmental Health Focus.
I'm still on the advocacy for the employment of Environmental Health Officers but today I'm shifting to an aspect of what can the Profession itself do to create the demand and opportunities for employment?
The struggle for the employment of trained Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) must not be seen as the responsibility of Government alone.
While Government has a duty to provide the necessary workforce for effective environmental health services, the Profession itself must also create, enforce and sustain the demand for Environmental Health Practitioners across establishments.
This is where the National Environmental Health Practice Regulations, 2024 becomes particularly significant.
SECTION 77: A REGULATORY OPPORTUNITY FOR EMPLOYMENT
Section 77(1), (2) and (3) of the Regulations provide a clear framework for the engagement of Environmental Health Practitioners by establishments.
Section 77(1) requires establishments to establish an Environmental Health Unit.
Section 77(2) provides for the employment of an adequate number of Environmental Health Practitioners in establishments with 50 or more employees.
For establishments with fewer than 50 employees, the Regulations provide for the engagement of Environmental Health Practitioners on retainer-ship.
These provisions are not merely statements on paper. They represent an important pathway for creating employment, strengthening environmental health practice and ensuring that environmental health responsibilities are professionally handled.
Therefore, the question should no longer be only:
“When will Government employ Environmental Health Officers?”
We should also ask:
“What are we, as Environmental Health Practitioners, doing to ensure that the provisions that create opportunities for our profession are actually implemented?”
EVERY PRACTITIONER MUST MAKE THE PROFESSION FELT
Environmental Health Practitioners must be visible, active and impactful wherever they serve.
Our presence in an establishment should not merely be about occupying an office or carrying out routine inspections.
We must demonstrate the value of Environmental Health Practice through aggressive professional inspection, identification of environmental health risks, enforcement of relevant regulations, abatement of nuisances and continuous professional engagement with establishments.
Most importantly, our professional activities should lead to the creation of Environmental Health Units and the engagement of qualified Environmental Health Practitioners where required by law.
When we enforce environmental health standards professionally, we are not only protecting public health; we are also creating legitimate opportunities for our colleagues.
DIFFERENT ROLES, ONE COMMON OBJECTIVE
The employment struggle requires a coordinated approach.
EHCON, in carrying out its regulatory mandate, must continue to engage Government establishments and other relevant institutions to ensure compliance with the regulatory framework governing Environmental Health Practice.
EHOAN, as the professional association, must intensify its advocacy, particularly its political and policy advocacy, to ensure that governments at all levels recognise the urgent need to employ adequately trained Environmental Health Officers.
Serving Environmental Health Officers, on their part, must become more aggressive and visible in professional practice.
Through inspection, enforcement, public enlightenment and regulatory compliance activities, they must demonstrate the indispensability of Environmental Health Practitioners to every establishment and community.
And there is another important group whose role must not be forgotten.
OUR RETIRED COLLEAGUES STILL HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY
Retirement from active service should not mean retirement from the Profession.
Many retired Environmental Health Practitioners have acquired valuable experience, influence, relationships and networks during their years of service.
Some have become politicians, traditional rulers, community leaders, senior religious leaders, consultants and influential members of society.
Such influence should be deliberately deployed to advance the cause of Environmental Health.
A retired practitioner who has access to a Governor, Minister, Legislator, Local Government Chairman, traditional ruler, religious leader or other influential decision-maker can help open a door that may lead to the employment of Environmental Health Officers.
Our retired colleagues should therefore remain ambassadors of the Profession.
The Profession invested in them, and they have a wealth of experience that can still be invested back into the Profession.
THE TIME FOR COLLECTIVE ACTION IS NOW
The unemployment of trained Environmental Health Officers cannot be solved by one institution or one group alone.
It requires EHCON to regulate.
It requires EHOAN to advocate.
It requires serving practitioners to practise, inspect and enforce.
It requires retired practitioners and influential professionals to use their networks and positions to open doors.
And above all, it requires Government to recognise and act upon the enormous public health value of Environmental Health Practice.
We must stop waiting for employment opportunities to appear while the regulatory framework already provides avenues for professional engagement.
Let us enforce the law.
Let us create the demand.
Let us demonstrate our relevance.
Let us open doors for our unemployed colleagues.
Because when an Environmental Health Unit is created, an employment opportunity is created.
When an establishment employs an Environmental Health Practitioner, a professional is empowered to serve.
And when qualified Environmental Health Officers are adequately deployed, the public is better protected.
EMPLOYMENT ADVOCACY IS EVERY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONER'S BUSINESS.
Let us all play our part.
Sanitarian Esther Oghenevwegba Edafienene
Environmental Health Advocate and Silent Public Health Guard
