Our health suffers when we live in an unclean environment. According to statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 12.6 million people died in 2012 due to living or working in unhealthy environments. That is nearly one in four global deaths.
This isn’t just a distant statistic. Students living behind the Admin block at MOUAU have experienced it firsthand. A serious waste disposal issue has turned a daily route into a health hazard.
When Trash Blocks the Path
For days, piles of waste were left unattended at a busy junction behind Admin. This junction connects several student hostels to the main campus. As the waste grew, it completely blocked the path.
With no alternative route, students were forced to step through the dirt just to attend lectures. It wasn’t just uncomfortable. It was degrading.
- The smell was unbearable.
- The area became a breeding ground for flies and mosquitoes.
- The risk of infections increased with every step.
Despite complaints, the situation remained unchanged.
More Than Just Dirt
This situation goes beyond inconvenience. It is a public health concern.
- Open waste attracts pests and spreads disease.
- Students tracking waste into classrooms poses additional risk.
- Rain could easily wash the waste into water sources.
The physical environment around us affects our well-being. Clean pathways and proper sanitation are essential, especially in a learning environment.
What Needs to Be Done
The solution is simple, but it requires urgency:
- The university’s sanitation unit should clear the waste immediately.
- A routine waste collection system should be established for high-traffic student areas.
- The Student Union Government must push for consistent oversight.
Students should not have to wade through garbage to learn. Clean roads are not a privilege. They are a basic necessity.
Time to Act
This should not happen again. If we want to prevent disease and protect students’ dignity, cleanliness must become a priority. The condition behind Back of Admin is not just a mess. It is a warning sign.
