Buhari shows Nigerians how to wash hands to curb COVID-19 spread

A photograph of the president, Muhammadu Buhari, teaching Nigerians how to wash their hands in order to avoid contracting or spreading coronavirus has been released by the State House, Abuja.

In the photograph, he is seen washing his hands in a wash hand basin right in front of a mirror. The location is reported to be his office or residence at the Presidential Villa in Aso Rock, Abuja.

It carries the caption, “President Buhari shows the way. Wash your hands, as many times as you can.”

The president was seen standing and busy washing his hands in a campaign meant to serve as a precaution against contracting the coronavirus.

Inside the restroom was a gold-plated mirror, a gold-plated soap handle, a sanitizer, an air freshener and another gold-plated tap, with a shelve by his side.

One of the media aides of President Buhari, Bashir Ahmad, who posted the photographs, while commenting on them, said: “Since there is no vaccine against coronavirus yet, the only way to to keep away from the virus is to stay at home and be washing your hands regularly.

“President Muhammadu Buhari shows the way. Stay at home and wash your hands as many times as you can. Join him and take Safe Hands Challenge.”

The message was reiterated by the president’s spokesman, Femi Adesina, on his Facebook page. He wrote: “President Buhari shows the way. Wash your hands as many times as you can.

The photographs elicited some reactions from Nigerians with some marvelling at the opulence inside the villa. One of them, Nwokwa Nnamdi @Igbo_Speaker, asked: “Why is the wash-hand basin not gold?”

Another citizen, Lord of the North @mcattah, wrote: “Someone reprobate would still say it is photoshop. Welldone Mr President.”
EKUNDAYO_YB
@greenland_234, wrote: “We have been washing our hands before he learnt how to pronounce COVID-19.”

Buhari Sani Junaid @BuhariJunaid wrote: “Another topic for wailing wailers. “Buhari’s toilet tap made of pure gold worth millions of dollars” LOL. More blessings to Baba.”

Another Twitter user, @AnObliviousGeek, wrote: “Disclaimer: Our soaps do not wash away failure and incompetence.”

Meanwhile, a pharmacist, Mr. Ayobambo Fajuyitan, on Tuesday cautioned Nigerians against using hand sanitisers with low alcohol content in preventing COVID-19. According to him, hand sanitiser capable of killing the virus must have 40 per cent alcohol content.

“When at home, it is preferred you use hand washing method. It’s better to use the hand wash in a running tap for 20 seconds when at home,’’ he said.Fajuyitan, however, cautioned against ingesting of hand sanitiser. “Hand sanitisers contain majorly glycerine and ethanol.

“ Hand sanitiser contains 62 per cent ethyl alcohol and that’s the equivalent of four shots of vodka. At that concentration, even a small dose can be dangerous if ingested,’’ Fajuyitan said.

According to him, the ingestion can lead to dizziness, slurred speech, headaches and even brain damage or death in extreme cases.

“Also ocular irritation, vomiting, conjunctivitis, oral irritation, cough and abdominal pain.

“Rare effects included coma, seizure, hypoglycemia metabolic acidosis and respiratory depression may occur.

“Majority of the hand sanitisers produced in Nigeria don’t even have up to 62 per cent ethyl alcohol.