By Fatima Saka
The United Nations General Assembly designated October 15 of every year as Global Handwashing Day with the aim of raising awareness on the importance of handwashing with soap as a fundamental action of hygiene for the well-being of all.
This was made known through press release signed by Kenechukwu Offie (Mrs) Director Press and Public Relations
18th October, 2022, in Abuja.
In actualization of this goal, the Federal Government in collaboration with the National Task Group on Sanitation (NTGS), the Organized Private Sector, Development Partners and other Stakeholders in the Water Sector joined the rest of the world to celebrate the year 2022 Global Handwashing Day with the theme: ‘Unite for Universal Hand Hygiene’ on Monday 17th October 2022 in Abuja.
Speaking at the commemoration of the event, the Honourable Minister of Water Resources, Engr Suleiman H. Adamu FNSE, FAeng, represented by Mrs Elizabeth Ugoh, a Director in the Department of Water Quality Control and Sanitation of the Ministry recalled that the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Water Resources has continued to demonstrate its commitment to the development of the WASH Sector in Nigeria as an acknowledgement of its importance in the health value chain.
He pointed out that the Federal Government has rolled out several initiatives such as the development of the National Action Plan for the revitalization of the WASH Sector with the declaration of a State of Emergency in the Sector; the implementation of the PEWASH programme; the launch of ‘Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet’ Campaign to end open defecation by 2025; and the signing of Executive Order 9 among others.
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Elaborating on the theme of this year’s event, the Minister said that it is a call to action, to build on progress made from previous years by uniting to ensure hand hygiene access and practice for everyone everywhere. He reiterated that hand washing with soap is key to reducing the burden of many diseases which pose chronic challenges to the health of the population and development.
Engr Adamu revealed that a National Hygiene Promotion strategy and the implementation guidelines for schools, primary health care centres and Public places are put in place through the Roadmap launched earlier in the year, which established clear implementation guidelines and standards for different settings and locations. The roadmap also defined resource mobilization, Strategies and funding mechanisms, as well as a phased monitoring and evaluation plan.
While appreciating the contributions of UNICEF, WHO, Reckitt, Action Against Hunger, Water Aid, OPS-WASH, Sight savers, NTGS and other Development Partners for their financial and technical support, Adamu also reaffirmed government’s commitment to the joint actualization of the vision and objectives of the Hand Hygiene for all. He said, “I wish to reiterate that the Government will continue to demonstrate the political will needed to drive a lasting change in the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene sector in Nigeria”.
The Honourable Minister also used the occasion to invite Stakeholders to the2022 World Toilet Summit being hosted by Nigeria from 18th – 19th November, 2022 in Abuja with the theme: “Sanitation Innovations for Economic Development”.
Speaking earlier the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs Didi Walson Jack mni, represented by the Director, General Services, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Mr Kayode Adamson said that this event which included media briefing, engagement on social and electronic media platforms and other state level events are all geared towards sensitizing the populace on adoption of good hygiene practices for personal and national gains.
Goodwill messages were received from the representatives of Minister of Environment, Minister of Education, Reckitt, OPS- WASH, UNICEF, Water Aid and SATO,targeted at the promotion of regular hand washing with deliberate emphasis on the fact that, “the practice is one of the most effective, preventive and control measures against infectious diseases”
The event witnessed the presentation of poems, songs and drama by some school children across the FCT, and equally highlighted symbolic hand washing by dignitaries in attendance.
