Sanitation Push Gains Momentum
Authorities kicked off a sweeping sanitation campaign at Yambio Airstrip on Friday, rallying civil servants, uniformed forces and residents under the slogan “Keep Yambio Town Clean.” The symbolic starting point sits at the gateway for visitors arriving by air.
Mayor Fozia Abbas Barnaba Bangasu told journalists the effort targets cleaner streets, healthier families and a more welcoming townscape. “We want every newcomer to feel our hospitality the moment they land,” she said, praising early volunteer turnout.
Community Mobilisation at Work
Youth groups brandished rakes beside elders in traditional dress, illustrating broad ownership of the initiative. Local chief Peter Ganza noted that collective sweeps once marked important festivals and said the revival of such customs “strengthens the social fabric.”
State transport minister Emmy Emmanuel Lavirick framed the clean-up as image management for a budding regional hub. He pledged mechanical sweepers for main arteries and promised to “embed hygiene into our daily routine, from schools to bus parks.”
Health and Image Benefits Highlighted
Governor James Al-Taib Berapai reminded residents that cleanliness underpins public safety as surely as policing. He argued that a litter-free environment deters vermin and water-borne infections, framing the campaign as a low-cost healthcare intervention.
Community health volunteer Maria Kpasuo welcomed the drive, noting previous cholera scares. “If drains stay clear, we save clinic beds,” she said. Peace activists also link tidy streets to calmer neighbourhoods, citing fewer hiding spots for illicit weapons.
Authorities Eye Long-Term Impact
Organisers insist the effort will not fade after the media cameras leave. Schedules circulate for weekly sweeps of markets, feeder roads and residential blocks, with each zone allocated to a civic group or business.
Municipal officials are drafting bylaws on littering fines while offering tax rebates to businesses that sponsor bins. “Keeping Yambio clean is everyone’s responsibility,” a joint statement stressed, urging social media users to post progress photos with the hashtag #CleanYambio.