2 weeks Ago By Chibuzor Emejor
Abuja : The Federal Government has called for collective action from key stakeholders to sustain the handwashing campaign across the country. Prof. Joseph Utsev, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, made the call in Abuja at a media briefing to commemorate the 2024 Global Handwashing Day.
Utsev appealed to policymakers, business leaders, health professionals, media professionals, educators, or well meaning Nigerians to join in the handwashing campaign to reduce diseases and sicknesses in the country. He stated that Nigeria has low access to handwashing services or facilities despite having high knowledge of handwashing practices. The minister quoted the 2021 WASH NORM Report, which states that there is high knowledge of handwashing practices estimated at 99% among Nigerians.
He therefore, urged Nigerians to imbibe the practice of handwashing with soap, adding that handwashing is not just a hygiene practice but a global health necessity. According to him, “Handwashing with soap is critical to disease prevention and not only helps people improve their health, but also removes barriers to economic opportunity, allows children to learn and grow, and helps strengthen communities. “It is considered an affordable, accessible “do-it-yourself” vaccine for sanitation and hygiene-related diseases like diarrhoea, cholera, typhoid fever and pneumonia which are prevalent in our communities.
“It is estimated to cut deaths from diarrhoea by almost half and deaths from acute respiratory infections by a quarter. “Handwashing is a ‘first-line’ defence in preventing outbreaks and reducing the toll of both current and future pandemics. “Handwashing with soap also helps to reduce antimicrobial resistance and ensure the sustenance of efforts to end Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).
“We know that this simple act can make the difference between health and illness, and even life and death. “Yet, despite its proven effectiveness, many people across the globe lack access to the necessary resources, such as clean water, soap, and facilities. “We are in dire need to accelerate access to hygiene services in Nigeria, in line with the Sustainable Development Goal Target 6.
2, which is indicated by the availability of handwashing facilities with soap and water on premises.” Utsev, therefore, urged the media to embark on awareness creation among the citizenry, stressing the need to reach to every Nigerian with the key messages of handwashing with soap. The minister said: “Each of us, whether as policymakers, business leaders, health professionals, media professionals, educators, or individuals, has a role to play in ensuring that handwashing becomes a universal practice.
“Let us strive for a world where every child can grow up with the simple habit of washing their hands with soap, where every healthcare worker has access to hygiene facilities, and where every community can protect itself from preventable diseases.” Earlier, Mrs. Elizabeth Ugoh, Director, Water Quality Control and Sanitation, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, explained that the essence of the event was to bring together government officials, stakeholders, development partners, civil society organisations and the media to highlight the importance of hand hygiene for global health.
She noted that the campaign aims to raise awareness, promote behavioural change, especially among children, by encouraging regular handwashing with soap as a key aspect of personal and public health. The theme for this year’s Global Handwashing Day celebration is, “Why Are Clean Hands Still Important?”.
