Health
NAPHS to EHC: Hands off public health governance – Taofiq Yusuf
DDM News

The National Association of Public Health Students (NAPHS) has issued a firm and unequivocal warning to the Environmental Health Council (EHC) to respect its boundaries and operate strictly within its established mandate.
Diaspora digital media (DDM) gathered that Taofiq Yusuf, the author of this press release, has raised significant concerns over recent actions by the EHC, which suggest attempts to overstep its authority and assume control over the entire public health profession.
NAPHS condemns these moves as a grave overreach and a threat to the integrity of public health governance in Nigeria.
Environmental Health: A Component of Public Health, Not the Entire Discipline
Environmental health is undeniably an essential segment of public health.
It focuses on critical areas such as sanitation, waste management, pollution control, and environmental safety.
These efforts contribute immensely to ensuring a healthier environment and population.
However, NAPHS emphasizes that environmental health is but one of many components within the broad and multifaceted field of public health.
Public health is a multidisciplinary domain that includes specialties such as epidemiology, maternal and child health, health promotion, health education, health economics, policy development, nutrition, disease prevention, and more.
Attempting to equate environmental health with the entirety of public health reflects a misunderstanding of the discipline’s diversity and scope.
Despite its importance, the Environmental Health Council must recognize that it represents only a segment of this broader framework.
Any attempt by the EHC to dominate or regulate the entire public health profession not only oversteps its mandate but undermines the contributions of other professionals who play pivotal roles in protecting and promoting public health.
EHC’s Overreach: A Misuse of Authority
NAPHS has observed with dismay the recent activities of the Environmental Health Council, which seem aimed at asserting control over public health regulation in Nigeria.
Rather than focusing on its specific mandate to regulate environmental health practices, the EHC appears to be lobbying for a monopoly over the governance of the entire public health sector.
This behavior constitutes a clear misuse of authority and demonstrates a lack of respect for the autonomy of other public health professionals and their respective specialties.
Public health thrives on collaboration, and any attempt to centralize control under one entity risks fragmenting the discipline and stifling innovation and cooperation.
The EHC’s actions also threaten to marginalize the contributions of other fields within public health.
Professionals in epidemiology, nutrition, health education, and other areas have distinct expertise that complements environmental health but cannot be subsumed under it.
Public health is too diverse and critical to be monopolized by any single council or profession.
NAPHS Advocates for the Public Health Council Bill
To address these challenges and provide clarity in the governance of public health, NAPHS strongly calls on the Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to prioritize the signing of the Public Health Council Bill into law.
This bill is essential for safeguarding the integrity and future of public health in Nigeria.
The Public Health Council Bill, when enacted, will:
1. Clearly Define Roles: Establish a distinct regulatory body specifically for public health professionals.
This will ensure that each specialty within the public health sector is governed appropriately, with clear mandates that prevent overlapping or conflicts of interest.
2. Preserve Public Health Autonomy: Protect the field of public health from external interference by councils or bodies that do not fully represent its scope and diversity.
3. Promote Collaboration: Create an environment where various disciplines within public health can work together harmoniously, without fear of encroachment or dominance by any single entity.
NAPHS believes that this bill is long overdue and represents the best solution to the ongoing issues between the Environmental Health Council and the broader public health community.
A Call for Collaboration, Not Competition
NAPHS reiterates that the strength of public health lies in its multidisciplinary nature.
Each specialty has a unique role to play in achieving the shared goal of improved health outcomes for the population.
Instead of engaging in competition or power struggles, all stakeholders, including the Environmental Health Council, must prioritize collaboration.
The challenges facing public health in Nigeria, including disease outbreaks, poor sanitation, maternal and child health issues, and health education gaps, require a united approach.
Divisions and territorial disputes among regulatory bodies only serve to distract from the critical task of improving health outcomes.
NAPHS calls on the Environmental Health Council to redirect its energy and resources toward fulfilling its core responsibilities.
By focusing on regulating and advancing environmental health practices, the EHC can make significant contributions to public health without undermining or interfering with other specialties.
A Warning to the Environmental Health Council
In issuing this warning, NAPHS cautions the Environmental Health Council to desist from any further attempts to encroach on the broader public health profession.
The EHC must operate within its established boundaries and respect the autonomy of other professionals and regulatory bodies.
Public health in Nigeria is at a critical juncture, and it cannot afford distractions caused by inter-agency conflicts.
The Federal Government, professional associations, and other stakeholders must work together to resolve these issues and ensure that every sector within public health operates with clarity, respect, and purpose.
The Way Forward
To prevent future conflicts and strengthen public health governance in Nigeria, NAPHS recommends the following steps:
1. Swift Passage of the Public Health Council Bill: The Federal Government must expedite the signing of this bill into law.
It is a crucial step toward ensuring proper governance and delineation of roles within public health.
2. Regular Stakeholder Engagement: Regulatory councils, professional associations, and other stakeholders should hold regular meetings to foster dialogue, address concerns, and promote collaboration.
3. Public Awareness Campaigns: Educate the public and policymakers about the distinct roles and contributions of various public health specialties to prevent misconceptions and unnecessary conflicts.
4. Capacity Building: Invest in the training and development of public health professionals across all specialties to strengthen the field and enhance its ability to address Nigeria’s health challenges.
5. Enforcement of Mandates: Ensure that all regulatory councils, including the Environmental Health Council, operate strictly within their mandates.
Any attempts to overreach should be addressed swiftly and decisively.
Conclusion
NAPHS remains unwavering in its commitment to defending the integrity and future of public health in Nigeria.
The association will continue to advocate for policies and initiatives that promote collaboration, respect, and excellence within the field.
Public health is a collective effort, and no single entity can claim ownership or control over it.
By working together and respecting each other’s roles, stakeholders can create a stronger, more effective public health system that meets the needs of all Nigerians.
NAPHS calls on the Environmental Health Council to heed this warning and refocus its efforts on its core responsibilities.
The association also urges the Federal Government to take swift action in signing the Public Health Council Bill into law, thereby laying the foundation for a more harmonious and effective public health system in Nigeria.
The future of public health depends on our ability to work together.
Let every council, including the EHC, remember that our shared goal is to improve the health and well-being of the Nigerian population.
This goal can only be achieved through mutual respect, collaboration, and a clear understanding of our individual and collective responsibilities.
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