“Be a hand washing hero.” That Was The Central Message As Nigeria Joined The Rest Of The World To Commemorate The 2025 Global Hand-washing Day In Abuja, to Raise Awareness On The Importance Of Basic Hand Hygiene In Preventing Infectious Diseases.
Delivering The Keynote Address, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev, Emphasised That While Hand washing May Seem Simple, every Nigerian Must Make It A Daily Habit To Ensure Clean Hands At All Times.
Global Hand-washing Day is commemorated every October 15 to raise awareness on the importance of washing hands with soap as a simple, effective, and affordable way to prevent diseases and promote access to hygiene facilities in homes, schools, and healthcare centers.
According to a UNICEF report, only 16% of Nigerians have access to basic hand-washing facilities at home, leaving families and communities vulnerable to infectious diseases, especially children.
This year’s celebration carries a strong message, calling on leaders at both the national and sub-national levels to commit to measurable actions that ensure the provision of hand washing facilities in schools, hospitals, and workplaces. This will make hand hygiene a non-negotiable public health priority.
To address the gap, United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF representatives at the event highlighted ongoing efforts to promote hygiene education, expand access to hand-washing stations and soap, and urged governments to place hand hygiene at the center of health policies and investments.
The Federal Government has also demonstrated commitment through initiatives such as the PEWASH Programme, the Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet Campaign, and the Sustainable Urban and Rural WASH Project, which together provide a roadmap for advancing hygiene promotion and disease prevention nationwide.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
