As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to commemorate the 2024 Global Handwashing Day, the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation has emphasised the critical role of hand hygiene in safeguarding public health. Global Handwashing Day is celebrated October 15 annually. It is a global advocacy day dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding about the importance of handwashing with soap as an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives.
The theme for this year is “Unite for Universal Hand Hygiene” This year’s event, themed: “Why Are Clean Hands Still Important?”, underscores the fact that despite progress in awareness, the practice of handwashing with soap and clean water remains vital in preventing the spread of diseases. According to the American Centre for Disease Control (CDC), handwashing with soap and water is simple and inexpensive, and it can significantly reduce the number of young children who get sick. “Teaching people about handwashing helps them and their communities stay healthy,” said CDC.
Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja, the minister of water resources and sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, highlighted that handwashing is not just a hygiene practice but a “global health necessity.” It is an affordable, simple, and effective measure to prevent illnesses such as diarrhea, cholera, typhoid, and pneumonia, diseases that frequently burden Nigerian communities.
“Handwashing with soap is a first-line defense against .
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