Plans To Incorporate Hand Hygiene In Nigs Nat’l Response Underway

Plans to incorporate hand hygiene into Nigeria’s national response and long-term development strategies in the offing.

Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, stated this during the 2024 Global Handwashing Day event in Abuja,

The Minister who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Richard Pheelangwah who explained that the government is committed in embedding handwashing practices into national resilience plans urged institutional actors to support efforts to scale up hand hygiene initiatives across communities.

“Nigeria has recently faced a resurgence of cholera outbreaks, exacerbated by inadequate hygiene practices and poor access to safe water and sanitation facilities”.

The minister emphasised the need for multi-faceted approach, which include public campaigns, accessible hygiene facilities, regular monitoring, and behavior reinforcement.

“This underscores the urgent need for a balanced approach that promotes hygiene alongside improvements in water supply and sanitation” Professor Utsev stated.

He stressed that handwashing facilities should be made available in all households, schools, healthcare facilities, workplaces, and public spaces and must be accessible to people with disabilities to ensure equitable access.

“Cholera, a water-borne disease, thrives in environments where sanitation and hygiene are compromised, leading to widespread illness and fatalities, particularly in underserved communities” the Minister emphasized.

Utsev stressed the need for sustained policy advocacy and programme implementation to foster long-term behavior change regarding hand hygiene.

According to the Minister, the continuous efforts from all levels of government and civil society are essential for success while reaffirming the federal government’s commitment to advance the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector in Nigeria.

Professor Utsev who pledged to collaborate with stakeholders on the Hand Hygiene for All Roadmap stated that increased awareness would lead to a healthier, more prosperous nation.

On her part, the UNICEF Chief of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene, WASH, Dr Jane Bevan, frowned over Nigeria’s low handwashing rates, with only 17 percent of the population practicing proper handwashing at critical times.

“We need to move beyond simply expecting everyone to wash their hands and start holding people accountable when they don’t. If you see someone eating without washing their hands, call them out, such behavior can lead to illness, Bevan noted.”

She urged individuals to become ambassadors for handwashing, encouraging others to wash their hands before eating and after using the toilet.

Earlier, the Director of Water Quality Control in the Ministry, Mrs Elizabeth Ugoh, stated that the event aims to raise awareness about the importance of handwashing with soap as an affordable way to prevent hygiene-related diseases.

A representative of the World Health Organisation, WHO, Dr Edwin Isotu-Edeh, highlighted efforts to combat the cholera outbreak in Lagos, including the installation of handwashing stations and the donation of hygiene materials to 10 healthcare facilities.

He also noted that WHO is implementing Sanitation Safety Plans (SSP) in five states, underscoring the importance of protecting healthcare workers before responding to emergencies encouraged Nigerians to make hand hygiene a daily habit for disease prevention, particularly after using the toilet, preparing food, changing diapers, or handling animals, and to promote the practice to others.

A representative from WaterAid, Mr Nanpet Chuktu, who emphasised the effectiveness of handwashing with soap and water in preventing diseases and saving lives acknowledged progress made since the COVID-19 pandemic but pointed out a significant gap between awareness and actual practice.

There were goodwill messages from development partners, private organisations, and other ministries, as well as a panel discussion, symbolic handwashing activities, and the presentation of recognition awards to development partners.

The theme for this year’s hand washing day is : “Why Are Clean Hands Still Important?”

Georgina Humphrey, Edited By Grace Namiji