2019 Hand Washing Day: Minister Calls for Inclusiveness

The Honourable Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman H. Adamu, FNSE, FAEng has stated “…we must be inclusive when addressing handwashing disparities as it occurs across wealth quintiles, geographical locations and vulnerable groups”.

The Minister made the statement Thursday, 10^th October, 2019 in Abuja during the Ministerial Press Briefing to commemorate the 2019 Global Hand washing Day with the theme: “Clean Hands for All”.

In his address, Engr. Adamu noted that the absence of WASH facilities (including handwashing stations) in schools, healthcare facilities, and workplaces is an equity issue for girls and women, particularly for menstrual hygiene management. The availability of handwashing stations can stop the spread of diseases in these settings and adapting these facilities for the use of people with disabilities will ensure their accessibility.

The Minister maintained that behavior change is required for people to wash their hands consistently at key times as it will help to ensure the sustenance of efforts to end Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) such as River Blindness, Lymphatic Filariasis. Onchocerciasis, Soil Transmitted Helminthes and Schistosomiasis.

Adamu reiterated that October 15 of every year was designated by the United Nations General Assembly as a global advocacy day dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding about the importance of hand washing with soap, which is an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases.

Other activities lined up at the national level to commemorate the 2019 Global Hand washing Day which is being co-ordinated by the National Task Group on Sanitation(NTGS) include: the finals of the Quiz Competition on WASH  organized for selected schools across 10 States which will hold on Monday, 14^th October, 2019 at Rockview Hotel, Abuja, symbolic hand washing and commemoration event on Tuesday, 15^th October, 2019 at Reiz Continental Hotel, Abuja sponsored by Action Against Hunger, UNICEF and Reckyitt Benckiser, engagement of the social media platforms of the Ministry and other partners in actively creating awareness and disseminating key messages on hand washing through this period and beyond.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Director of Water Quality Control and Sanitation, Mr. Awe Emmanuel stated that the objective of the commemoration is to create awareness of Hand washing with soap, educate children on the importance of Hand washing and hygiene against the background of the fact that “prevention is better than cure”, involvement of Private Sectors to promote hand washing and Sensitize Nigerians on the need to always wash their hands with soap at the critical times.

The Press Briefing was witnessed by some Directors and staff of FMWR, Development Partners and Civil Society Organisations (CLOs).

Kenechukwu Offie (Mrs.)

Director (Information)