FG vows to boost WASH sector, tackle hand hygiene in rural areas

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to revitalizing Nigeria’s Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector, pledging to tackle the country’s lingering hand hygiene challenges, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach areas.

The Director of Water Supply at the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Babarinde Segun Mukaila, made the commitment on Friday, at the media parley to kick off the 2024 Global Handwashing Campaign in Abuja.

The parley which was organised by Self Help Africa(SHA), focused on youth inclusion and promoting hand hygiene in Nigerian communities.

The Director who represented the Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Bello Muhammad Goronyo, emphasized the critical role of WASH in preventing diseases, reducing poverty, and enabling economic growth, citing the sector’s impact on Nigeria’s broader development goals.

“WASH underpins much of our development objectives, including improved health outcomes, reduced poverty, and economic growth,” he stated.

“The Federal Government has launched several initiatives to improve WASH outcomes, including the YouthWASH programme, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).”

“This programme aims to mobilize young people as change agents and ambassadors for optimal WASH practices.”

He further said, the Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet Campaign seeks to end open defecation by 2025, with hand hygiene playing an integral role in this effort.

He assured that the government prioritizes WASH initiatives, focusing on technical innovation, strategic partnerships, and policy implementation.

He reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to improving WASH outcomes across Nigeria, ensuring the widespread adoption and implementation of the National Youth WASH Strategy.

“We are focusing on long-term, sustainable solutions that deliver infrastructure and foster a culture of hygiene, especially in rural and hard-to-reach areas.”

He also commended Self Help Africa and other stakeholders for their dedication to the cause. The organization’s support has been instrumental in promoting WASH best practices and advocating for policy changes.

“As Nigeria marks Global Handwashing Day, the Federal Government’s renewed commitment to WASH is expected to have a significant impact on the country’s public health landscape.

“With hand hygiene at the forefront, Nigeria is poised to make strides in preventing diseases and promoting healthy lifestyles.

“The Ministry also called on Nigerians to join the WASH revolution, embracing hand hygiene as a vital aspect of daily life. By working together, Nigeria can achieve a healthier, more resilient future.

“Federal Government’s pledge to boost Nigeria’s WASH sector and tackle hand hygiene challenges signals a new era of commitment to the nation’s public health and well-being.”

Similarly, the Health Adviser, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office(FCDO), Dr. Chidera Chukwu lamented that Nigeria is facing a critical issue and despite 99% of household heads being aware of proper handwashing techniques.

While quoting the 2021 WASHNORM data, he said, there is a staggering gap between knowledge and practice, with only 8% actually practicing proper hand washing.

“This discrepancy underscores the need for a mobile hand washing campaign to bridge the gap. The campaign serves as a call to action, urging youths to become hygiene champions and advocate for sustainable health practices.”

“This includes NYSC members, who can play a pivotal role in promoting proper handwashing techniques.

“By empowering youths, the campaign aims to create a ripple effect that inspires communities to adopt better hygiene practices.”

“The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has expressed its support for the Nigerian government’s efforts to build resilient systems through youth leadership and community involvement.

“The FCDO is excited to see the WASH Systems for Health program, funded by FCDO, operationalize the National Youth strategy. This program has the potential to yield significant positive outcomes.”

Chukwu also noted that effective handwashing practices are crucial in preventing the spread of diseases, stressing that by promoting proper handwashing techniques, the campaign can contribute to a reduction in water-borne illnesses and other infectious diseases.

“The mobile hand washing campaign will focus on promoting behavior change through community engagement and education.”

“This will involve working with local leaders, schools, and community groups to spread awareness about the importance of proper handwashing.

“Youth involvement is critical to the campaign’s success. By empowering young people to become hygiene champions, the campaign can tap into their energy and creativity to drive positive change.” He added

Meanwhile, the Country Director of Self Help Africa(SHA), Joy Aderele, pointed out that it is hard to forget anything about the Covid-19 pandemic.

She said, “The death tolls, lockdown, social distancing, isolation. We also remember how handwashing became popular as a non-negotiable strategy for preventing the spread of the virus.”

“But while the pandemic is way past its peak, handwashing with soap is still as important as ever before.

“For additional context, 80% of germs are transmitted by unclean hands touching contaminated surfaces according to National Center for Preparedness, Detection, and Control of Infectious Diseases (NCPDCID) and National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne, and Enteric Diseases (NCZVED).

“This ongoing fight against infectious diseases has re-emphasized the importance of hand hygiene. This is what Global Handwashing Day is about.”

She also explained that the Global Handwashing Day (GHD) is an annual event celebrated on 15 October to highlight the importance of hand hygiene as a simple, effective, and affordable measure to prevent the spread of diseases and save lives.

“For five consecutive years, Self Help Africa has collaborated with public and private sector players to hold Nigeria’s longest and largest one month outreach.

“The campaign has focused on increasing awareness and understanding about the importance of handwashing with soap as an easy, effective, and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives. From 2014 to 2019, the campaign reached over 10 million people in Nigeria and globally.”

“Nigeria carries one of the heaviest burdens of child deaths from diseases caused by inadequate WASH, such as diarrhoeal diseases.”

“Reports from the 2021 Water, Sanitation and Hygiene National Outcome Routine Mapping (WASH NORM) show that less than one-third of the population practises proper handwashing techniques with soap and this practice alone, when done consistently, can reduce diarrhoea cases by up to 30% and respiratory infections by 21%, making it one of the most effective ways to prevent these deadly diseases. This makes the need for awareness critical.

“For the Global Handwashing Campaign this year, SHA in Nigeria is focusing on youth inclusion in promoting hand hygiene in grassroots communities across the country.”

“Nigeria has one of the largest youth populations in the world, with 63% of the population under the age of 25. This demographic, while also vulnerable to hygiene-related problems, represents a significant opportunity as advocates of change.”

“This is why we will be engaging Nigerian youths, particularly through the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme which gathers thousands of young people from across the country,” she said.

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