Nigeria’s month-long promotion of Handwashing Day underscores national commitment to public safety

By YANGE IKYAA

The series of activities outlined
to mark this year’s Hand Washing Day in Nigeria, amounting to four weeks of electronic and social media engagements on radio, television and social media platforms have demonstrated the nation’s commitment to promoting public safety and the development of a healthy nation.

Other activities that were also carried out to spur community action included a multi-stakeholder session on WASH in infection prevention and control, as well as pandemic preparedness in Nigeria.

The activities were hosted by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and were held on October 14, with the main commemoration event taking place on Friday, October 15 at Chida Hotel, Jabi in the nation’s capital, Abuja.

Diverse stakeholders were brought together, such as government organizations, CSOs,development partners, school children, trade unions, as well as the media and the private sector.

In the words of the minister of water resources, Engr. Suleiman H. Adamu, “the outbreak of COVID-19 has reawakened a consciousness of handwashing practices and it is important that the sustainability of this behaviour to achieve hand hygiene for all is ensured.”

This year’s theme for the commomeration of the Global Hand Washing Day is “Our Future is at Hand – Lets’ Move Forward Together.”

It is a follow-up from last year’s theme “Hand Hygiene for all” and is focused on ensuring that “we maintain the momentum and move forward together towards universal hand hygiene.”

Engr. Adamu further stated that Nigeria had commenced the process of the development of a “Hand Hygiene for all Roadmap” earlier in the year, with support from UNICEF and WHO.

The Roadmap is expected to chart the course of ensuring available and affordable products and services to enable a culture of handwashing with soap for all, especially those in disadvantaged situations. Once finalized, it will also be integrated into existing government strategy documents for implementation.

The minister emphasized that October 15 of every year, as a United Nations designated day for global advocacy on increasing awareness on the importance of handwashing with soap, is an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives.

This day is expected to catalyse local, national and global actions and build the culture of hand washing with soap. It is also a call to action by all highlighting collective financing, government leadership, donor and private sector support, including community-level action.

The permanent secretary, federal ministry of water resources, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson –Jack, said that the essence of commemorating global days, such as the Global Handwashing Day, is to create awareness, advocate for increased collaboration and partnership in the national effort to improve access to handwashing products and services and to mobilize the populace on a sustainable behaviour change path.

The director, water quality control and sanitation, Mr. Emmanuel Awe, gave the objectives of 2021 Hand washing Day as public awareness creation on the benefits and cost effectiveness of hand washing with soap at critical times, mobilization of stakeholder support in improving access to handwashing facilities in communities, schools/health facilities and other public places, and to reach as many Nigerians as possible with hygiene messages and improve access to hygiene promotion information.