As Nigeria joins the remainder of the world to commemorate the 2024 International Handwashing Day, the Ministry of Water Assets and Sanitation has emphasised the crucial function of hand hygiene in safeguarding public well being.
International Handwashing Day is widely known October 15 yearly. It’s a world advocacy day devoted to growing consciousness and understanding concerning the significance of handwashing with cleaning soap as an efficient and inexpensive method to forestall illnesses and save lives. The theme for this yr is “Unite for Common Hand Hygiene”
This yr’s occasion, themed: “Why Are Clear Palms Nonetheless Necessary?”, underscores the truth that regardless of progress in consciousness, the observe of handwashing with cleaning soap and clear water stays very important in stopping the unfold of illnesses.
In response to the American Centre for Illness Management (CDC), handwashing with cleaning soap and water is easy and cheap, and it could possibly considerably scale back the variety of younger youngsters who get sick.
“Instructing individuals about handwashing helps them and their communities keep wholesome,” stated CDC.
Talking at a media briefing in Abuja, the minister of water sources and sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, highlighted that handwashing isn’t just a hygiene observe however a “international well being necessity.” It’s an inexpensive, easy, and efficient measure to stop sicknesses akin to diarrhea, cholera, typhoid, and pneumonia, illnesses that ceaselessly burden Nigerian communities.
“Handwashing with cleaning soap is a first-line protection towards many infectious illnesses,” Prof. Utsev said.
“It’s a life-saving behavior that performs a major function in lowering sickness and even mortality, particularly amongst weak teams like youngsters and folks with weakened immune programs, he added.
Handwashing has been proven to scale back diarrheal sicknesses by as much as 40 % and respiratory infections by over 20 %, considerably chopping down on faculty absences and healthcare prices. Past illness prevention, handwashing promotes financial development by permitting youngsters to remain wholesome and attend faculty, and adults to stay productive at work.
Nonetheless, whereas consciousness of the advantages of handwashing is excessive, standing at 99 % in accordance with the 2021 WASH NORM Report, Prof. Utsev expressed concern over the low availability of handwashing amenities in lots of elements of the nation. Entry to wash water, cleaning soap, and useful washing stations stays a significant problem, significantly in rural areas. This hole in entry hinders the complete realisation of the advantages of hand hygiene.
The minister known as for renewed efforts to satisfy the Sustainable Improvement Aim (SDG) Goal 6.2, which goals for common entry to ample handwashing companies by 2030. He additionally acknowledged the contributions of companions akin to Reckitt, WaterAid, UNICEF, and others in selling hand hygiene throughout Nigeria.
International Handwashing Day serves as a reminder that handwashing is a vital public well being observe that have to be maintained even exterior of emergency well being conditions just like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prof. Utsev urged the general public, personal sectors, and media to proceed championing hand hygiene to make sure it turns into a everlasting observe.
“Every of us has a task to play,” he stated. “Collectively, we will construct a future the place each group is provided with the instruments they should observe hand hygiene and shield themselves from preventable illnesses.”
The minister urged all stakeholders to take concrete actions to make sure common hand hygiene. “Every of us has a task to play in making handwashing a common observe,” he stated.
“Allow us to attempt for a world the place each youngster can develop up with the straightforward behavior of washing their arms with cleaning soap, the place each healthcare employee has entry to hygiene amenities, and the place each group can shield itself from preventable illnesses,” he added.
