Mr Eben Ebo, a specialist working with the United Nations Children and Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Sokoto Field Office, has advocated the sustenance of handwashing as basic practice that needs to continue as authoritative policy.
Ebo made the call at the 2021 Global Handwashing Day ceremony tagged, ” Our Future is at Hand, Let’s Move Forward ”, organised by the Sokoto state government, in partnership with UNICEF, on Friday, in Sokoto.
He called for sustained sensitisation of stakeholders on the importance of handwashing, to enable Nigerians to imbibe the practice.
In spite of campaigns, the practice was still low and not yielding the desired impact as some residents and institutions did not consider it important.
” COVID-19 pandemic has forced people to embark on handwashing exercise out of fear and had attracted leaders’ attention ” Ebon said.
He advised people to keep their hands clean as one of the most important steps to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others.
“ Many infections are spread by not washing hands with soap and clean running water. Handwashing with soap removes germs from the hands.
” Constant handwashing exercise could prevent infections because people frequently touch their eyes, nose, and mouth without even realising it ”, he said.
Ebo stressed the need for the practice to be made mandatory at offices, residential areas and public places, in order to adequately safeguard peoples’ health.
In his speech, the Director of Public Health in the Sokoto state ministry of health, Dr Abdurrahman Ahmad, urged people to embrace handwashing at all times.
“Germs can get into the body through the eyes, nose and mouth and make us sick, and such germs from unwashed hands can get into foods and drinks as people prepare or consume them.
” Handwashing reduces the number of people who get sick with diarrhea in the communities. It also reduces diarrhea in people with weakened immune systems, as it reduces respiratory illnesses like cold in the general population,” Ahmad said.
Alhaji Sani Naguru, the Special Adviser to Gov. Aminu Tambuwal, on Water and Sanitation reiterated government’s commitment to promoting sanitation and hygiene across the state.
The District Head of Gagi, Alhaji Sani Umar-Jabbi, called for increased sensitisation of the people to imbibe the habit of handwashing in recognition of its importance.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was attended by officials of the ministry of water resources, students, other youths and women groups, among others.
Expert advocates handwashing to be made mandatory in residential areas and public places
