AS the world commemorates Global Hand Washing Day, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria-Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PSN-PACFaH) has urged the Government of Nigeria and the general public to accept regular hand washing with soap and water as it prevents childhood pneumonia and diarrhea.

According to the theme ‘Global Hand Washing Day 2015: Childhood Pneumonia & Diarrhea Kills: Hand Washing Saves Lives’, Programme Director of Strategy, PSN-PACFaH, Remi Adeseun, said over one million people around the world under the age of five die from diarrhea disease and pneumonia.

He said that although people wash their hands with water, very few use soap to wash their hands, stressing that washing hands with soap removes germs much more effectively.

Adeseun said: “One million children under the age of five die from diarrheal diseases and pneumonia, which are the top two killers of young children around the world.

“Hand washing with soap prevents about one out of every three episodes of diarrhea illnesses and prevents about one out of six episodes of respiratory infection such as pneumonia. Hand washing with soap is extremely effective and the most inexpensive way to prevent diarrhea and Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI).”