NEMA has called on public health officials to remain vigilant in ensuring the disposal of masks as well as waste from quarantine and isolation facilities are disposed in accordance with the guidelines issued by the authority
By Albert Lemomo
The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) takes lead in Covid-19 waste management efforts as it battles upsurge of plastic waste in Kajiado County.
Kajiado County NEMA Coordinator Joseph Kopejo (pictured) has called on public health officials to remain vigilant in ensuring the disposal of masks as well as waste from quarantine and isolation facilities are disposed in accordance with the guidelines issued by the authority to curb the spread of Coronavirus.
Speaking to our reporter on Monday 23, during an interview, NEMA Coordinator noted that environmental hygiene is a critical component in war against Covid-19 pandemic that will minimize infections.
“It is now mandatory that every individual should wear a mask while in public spaces to protect themselves from Coronavirus. This has led to a spike of masks littering everywhere which has become hazardous to many people since it can lead to fast spread of the disease,” said Kopejo.
He said NEMA has collaborated with the Ministry of Health officials in identifying areas of disposing the masks, personal protective equipment and any other form of waste emanating from the isolation centers and quarantine facility to ensure safety of the environment.
The County Coordinator affirmed that the authority will not relent in its effort to enforce the plastic ban to the latter with a huge influx of nylon papers illegally in circulation by suspected traders.
“We have currently up-scaled our operations and nabbed at least 40 people in Kajiado, Kitengela, Ngong and Kiserian towns whom we found with the banned nylon papers and we are not going to relent because we understand that most of these plastics are being sneaked into the Country via Loitoktok to Namanga border,” warned Kopejo.
He reiterated that NEMA officials have held consultative meetings with Customs officers at the border points and law enforcers to ensure all loopholes are sealed to tame suspects from trading the banned plastics in the market.
“In the next phase of our operation we shall target the suppliers and the main perpetrators who are benefitting from this menace,” Kopejo added.
Kopejo advised members of the public to ensure that they dispose of their masks in the designated marked bins to avoid spread of Covid-19 at all time.
Despite ban on the manufacture, sale and use of plastic bags in August 2017, it is now three years and the war on the circulation of the banned plastics is still on.
