The federal authorities has launched a five-year strategic plan to eliminate lead poisoning in Nigeria, with a give attention to strengthening prevention, surveillance, regulation and coordinated motion in opposition to publicity.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, introduced the plan in Abuja on Wednesday throughout the commemoration of the 2026 International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, themed “From Detection to Prevention”.
Lead poisoning occurs when lead, a poisonous heavy metallic, accumulates within the physique over time.
There isn’t any recognized protected degree of lead publicity, and even low ranges can hurt human well being, notably in kids. Exposure can harm the mind and nervous system, impair studying and growth, and improve the chance of cardiovascular and kidney illnesses.
Mr Salako described lead poisoning as a significant public well being and environmental problem, figuring out kids, pregnant girls and ladies of childbearing age as notably weak teams.
Strategy
Sharing methods, Mr Salako mentioned the federal government was transferring past figuring out instances to tackling lead publicity at its supply.
He highlighted the institution of the Inter-Agency Working Group on Lead Poisoning Prevention and Elimination to strengthen collaboration amongst ministries, departments and companies, in addition to growth companions.
Citing experiences in Lagos, Ogun, Sokoto and Zamfara states, the minister mentioned interventions should be tailor-made to native sources and pathways of publicity.
“At the subnational level, we have identified the development of state-specific lead prevention and control action plans for Lagos, Ogun, Zamfara and Sokoto States as an important next step,” he mentioned.
“These plans will reflect the specific sources and pathways of exposure within each of the states while remaining aligned with the national framework.”
He mentioned finalising the Lagos State motion plan was notably necessary, because it was knowledgeable by assessments of blood lead ranges and youngsters’s environmental well being.
According to the minister, the five-year plan supplies a framework for multisectoral motion, together with environmental and occupational surveillance, improved laboratory capability, stronger regulation and enforcement, and clearer referral pathways for folks with elevated blood lead ranges.
He added {that a} three-year nationwide roadmap was being developed to translate the strategic plan into measurable interventions.
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Prevention
Mr Salako known as on state governments, growth companions, industries, civil society organisations, skilled our bodies, conventional and spiritual leaders, and the media to help the plan’s implementation.
He additionally urged Nigerians to take preventive measures, together with avoiding contaminated soil and dirt, utilizing lead-safe merchandise and observing security precautions throughout battery recycling and portray.
Other measures he advisable included protecting work garments away from dwelling areas, wet-cleaning flooring and youngsters’s play areas, and sustaining diets wealthy in calcium, iron and vitamin C.
Mr Salako mentioned the Federal Ministry of Health and Social . was dedicated to main efforts to shift Nigeria’s response to lead poisoning from a reactive method to a complete, preventive and sustainable technique.
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