SOEHPON Partners Media to Foster Occupational Health, Safety Practice 

Funmi Ogundare 

The Society of Occupational and Environmental Health Physicians of Nigeria (SOEHPON) has partnered with the Nigerian media to create awareness on their role  in fostering good occupational health and safety practice in the country.

Speaking at  a one -day workshop in Lagos, themed, ‘The Power of the Media to Change Occupational Health and Safety Landscape in Nigeria’, the National President of the Society , Dr. Musa Shaibu, explained that personal health and safety in every aspect of life, should become a household activity and that corporate organisations and individuals should take it very seriously .

He stressed the importance of abiding by the rules of personal health and safety for individual’s benefits, noting that Nigerians should not have to die from causes that are avoidable.

“We do not wish to see any Nigerian die from a cause that is absolutely avoidable, so corporate organisations and individuals must take it very seriously.

“For those who will be traveling during the yuletide,  apart from their financial capacity , Nigerians need to revisit the health and safety of the value chain to travel by ensuring that it is safe.  If it is not safe or secure, you can do the celebration in your house and whatever you do, you do it in moderation because at the end of the day, your health and safety is in your hands,” Shaibu stressed.

He disclosed that the society is already engaging with the National Assembly to ensure that there a law is passed that will protect workers in their employment from risks resulting from factors adverse to their health , adding,” our goal is to advance the development and practice of Occupational Health ( OH), in Nigeria that will ensure improved productivity.”

According to him,” all workers have a right to health and safety in their workplaces . The ILO and WHO, recognise that people spend significant part of their lives at work. The ILO Occupational Safety and Health Convention ( (No 155) and Recommendation ( ( No. 164) provide framework to protect the health, safety and well-being of their workers. It is the right of all workers.”

In her remarks, a Professor of Occupational Medicine, University of Ibadan, Folasade Omokhodion, stressed the need for media advocacy on enforcement of legislation on health and safety consequences in organisations.

“We have public health challenges in Nigeria, hence the need for advocacy on the enforcement of law that will ensure that employers do what they ought to do so that workers/ employees can be aware of their health and safety ,” she stated.