Hand hygiene key to preventing diseases, enhancing public health-FG

The Federal Government has emphasized the importance of hand hygiene in protecting public health and preventing illness.

During a press conference in Abuja on Friday, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Bello Goronyo, represented by Babarinde Mukaila, the Director of Water Supply, highlighted that water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) are vital not only for disease prevention but also for achieving broader developmental objectives, such as enhancing health, alleviating poverty, and fostering economic growth.

Goronyo stated, “Our ministry is dedicated to improving WASH infrastructure and ensuring effective policy implementation. The theme for this year’s campaign, ‘Why are clean hands still important?’ emphasizes the ongoing significance of hand hygiene in protecting public health, particularly in light of its proven effectiveness during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

He also discussed the youth WASH initiative, developed in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and facilitated through the National Youth Service Corps. This program aims to empower young people as advocates for WASH improvements, ensuring that best practices reach underserved communities.

Additionally, the “Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet” campaign, which aims to eliminate open defecation by 2025, highlights the role of hand hygiene in promoting behavioral change alongside infrastructure development. The minister stressed that by merging infrastructure projects with technical education and community engagement, a sustainable WASH environment can be established.

Goronyo reiterated the government’s focus on enhancing public health through innovative WASH initiatives and strategic partnerships, reaffirming the commitment to implementing the national youth WASH strategy effectively.

Joy Aderele, Country Director for Self Help Africa, echoed the message about hand hygiene’s critical role in combating infectious diseases. She remarked, “The memories of the COVID-19 pandemic—such as the losses and social distancing measures—are still fresh. Handwashing became a crucial method for mitigating virus transmission, and its importance remains high.”

Aderele noted that 80% of germs are spread via dirty hands contacting contaminated surfaces, as reported by the National Centre for Preparedness, Detection, and Control of Infectious Diseases. This highlights the ongoing battle against infectious diseases and underscores the significance of hand hygiene, a central theme of Global Handwashing Day.

She pointed out that Nigeria faces a significant challenge with child mortality linked to diseases arising from inadequate WASH conditions, such as diarrheal illnesses.