The Federal Government of Nigeria has called for effective hand washing practice to curtail the spread of diseases in the country.
Dr Iziaq Salako, Minister of State for Environment, made the call on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, during the commemoration of the 2024 Global Hand Washing Day at the Garki International Market, Abuja.
Salako said that Global Hand Washing Day was dedicated to increase awareness and understanding about the importance of hand washing with soap under running water as an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases.
“The Covid 19 pandemic provides an important reminder that one of the most effective ways to stop the spread of a virus is also one of the simplest–hand hygiene–especially through hand washing with soap under running water.
“It also serves as a reminder of the need to build on the current momentum to ensure hand hygiene becomes a mainstay in public health interventions and everyday life.’’
The minister said that clean hands were still important in preventing spread of infectious diseases, reducing risk of hospital-acquired infections, maintaining personal hygiene even in the marketplace, among others.
“Beyond the benefits of disease reduction, effective handwashing also reduces rates of absenteeism at workplace including marketplace.’’
According to Salako, the 2024 Global Hand Washing Day is commemorated annually on Oct.15.
“This year’s theme ‘Why Are Clean Hands Still Important?’ emphasises the role of hand hygiene in preventing infections, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
Ms. Evelyn Mere, Country Director, WaterAid Nigeria, said that the 2024 hand washing day was aimed at promoting hand washing with soap and water for easy, effective and affordable way of preventing diseases and save lives.
Mere, who was represented by Mrs. Theodora Igboaruka, Policy and Advocacy Manager, WaterAid, said that the theme called for collective responsibility to safeguarding public health, preventing infections and its spread, as well as promoting wellbeing.
“We need to take concrete action to ensure that everyone everywhere can practice hand washing.
“We must re-think our behavioural change approaches to nudge people to wash their hands as frequently as possible.
“It is not sufficient to provide hygiene facilities without providing the requisite education that would move people from awareness to action,’’ she said.
The country director assured that WaterAid would continue to partner with all stakeholders, especially government at all levels to strengthen systems to bring good hygiene within the reach of everyone everywhere.
Mrs. Felicia Sani, National President, Market Men, Women Association of Nigeria, said that washing of hands, especially when handling money as market people, curtailed the spread of diseases.
By Abigael Joshua
