Hand washing crucial for public, global health security – FG
The Federal Government has urged Nigerians to cultivate the habit of hand washing which is crucial for public health and global health security.
The Minister of State for Environment, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, made this known in his message while commemorating the Global Hand Washing held at Garki International Market in Abuja.
This years’ theme: “Why Are Clean Hands Still Important?” reflects an important question which provokes the thought that irrespective of the significant progress made in promoting hand washing with soup under running water, our journey is far from over.
This theme therefore confronts every sector and every individual with the reason to continue practicing and promoting effective hand washing and not to neglect this simple but powerful practice seeing that the benefits are limitless.
Dr Salako noted that Promoting proper hand washing in Nigeria is a strategic move to equip the nation in its fight against disease outbreaks as well as global threats such as antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
“Hand hygiene inclusion in government plans and funding not only improves health but also boosts the economy by reducing the burden on health services and promoting high healthcare standards.
“It also contributes to attaining multiple targets of the Sustainable Development Goals on Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), nutrition, education, health and economic growth.
The ministry has taken steps to deliver adequate sanitation and hygiene services to Nigerians.
Dr Salako added that these measures include capacity building, provision of hand washing facilities in schools, advocacy/sensitization, environmental health surveillance of public places, development of policies, regulatory and legislative frame works, implementation of relevant programmes and projects, establishment of relevant regulatory and enforcement agencies.
He said despite these measures, the level of hand washing compliance in Nigeria remains abysmally low, thus fueling the spread of infectious diseases.
According to him, the importance of clean hands is only the first step and while making significant progress in hand hygiene has been made, maintaining and improving hand hygiene behaviors remains crucial.
He, however states that to maintain this simple but crucial practice, effective collaboration of all stakeholders is imperative. Every individual, organization or business has a role to play in promoting hand hygiene.
Dr Salako solicit the support of the Press, Development Partners, NGOs, CSOs, the Organized Private Sector, Business owners, Community Leaders to prioritize effective hand washing, and invest in hand hygiene infrastructure, training and regular monitoring and behaviour infrastructure.
He noted that hand washing serves to break the transmission chain of these diseases especially diarrhea. It is therefore very important that the hands are washed properly using soap under running water.
‘Hand washing with soap under running water helps to reduce diarrhoeal diseases by 30 per cent, respiratory infections up to 20 per cent, and can also help to reduce the transmission of outbreak-related diseases such as cholera, Lassa fever, Ebola, COVID-19, m-pox,” he stressed.
He emphasized that hand washing is protective against up to 50 per cent of avoidable infections acquired during health care and also prevents the spread of antimicrobial resistance.
