FG partners groups to improve hand-washing initiative

FILE: Students of an Abuja-based school wash their hands. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde

The Federal Government (FG) is collaborating with the National Task Group on Sanitation (NTGS), and other stakeholders to raise awareness on the importance of hand washing as a fundamental action for hygiene and well-being.

The Minister of Water Resources, Suileman Adamu, while commemorating the handwashing Day, being October 15 designed every year by the United Nations General Assembly emphasised the importance of handwashing with soap as a fundamental action of hygiene for the well-being of all.

The Minister in the statement released on Tuesday 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.

Adamu stated that the aim of the day was to raise awareness on the importance of handwashing with soap.
He pointed out that the initiative was one the FG’s several initiatives such as the development of the National Action Plan for the revitalisation of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Sector with the declaration of a state of emergency in the sector.

Suleiman Adamu is Nigeria’s Minister of Water Resources.

Adamu said: “The FG 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’s Global Handwashing Day with the theme: ‘Unite for Universal Hand Hygiene’ on October 17, 2022 in Abuja.”

Adamu, who was represented by Mrs Elizabeth Ugoh, a Director in the Department of Water Quality Control and Sanitation of the Ministry recalled that the FG 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 FG has rolled out several initiatives such as the development of the National Action Plan for the revitalisation 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.

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 according to the statement also defined resource mobilisation, 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 actualisation 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.”

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”
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