The Federal Government of Nigeria has joined the rest of the World to commemorate the Global Hand washing campaign to sensitize the people on washing of hands with soap and running water as it is the most cost effective in prevention of diseases.
Flagging off the Campaign at Police Officers Wives Association Children School, Garki, Abuja on Wednesday 15 th September, 2014, the Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Reng Ochekpe said that hand washing with soap and running water has capacity to prevent cholera, diarrhea and other diseases.
Ochekpe said “hand washing can prevent the transmission of a variety of pathogens. You need to know that hand washing can be more effective than single vaccine”
“ It is for this reason we have come up to your school to sensitize you on global hand washing campaign but also to encourage you to join in the campaign to ensure that your school became the lead school in the campaign to ensure pupils, parents and other boys and girls in your neighborhoods join this campaign”
The Minister urged everyone to be agent of change not only in the school but in their daily activities, adding that if the hand washing campaign is taken seriously so many infectious will be prevented , there would be less hospital bill, healthy population and there would be more time to engage in productive activities.
Speaking on the recent Ebola cases in Nigeria, the Minister commended the effort of President Goodluck Jonathan for his prompt action to curtail the spread of the Virus in Nigeria. She said hand washing campaign had earlier been launched in Jabi Motor Park and Wuse Market in Abuja, as part of Ebola virus containment.
In his remarks the Country Representative WaterAid, Dr. Micheal Ojo confirmed that hand washing with soap and running water is very important in prevention of communicable diseases.
He said “it is important that you make regular hand washing a habit at home and at school, you must especially wash your hand with soap and running water before and after eating, after going to toilet, and after helping to change babies’ nappies, when you touches dirt or rubbish, after playing, after you get home from school or from anywhere, after you sit or play with sick friends or sisters/ brothers and after playing with animals”.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Inspector General of Police, Mr Suleiman Abba represented by Deputy Inspector General of Police Mamman Tsafe thanked the Hon. Minister for choosing Police facility to commence the programme.
He said the occasion is significant to the police officers as it will be a positive reminder to officers and men in the force on the need to wash hand with soap and running water so as to maintain high level hygiene in the various police stations across the country.
He charged all men and officers in the police force to be agent in the vanguard of promoting hygiene in their private and public life by washing hand with soap and running water.
The Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Ambassador (WASH) Ebele Okeke urged the children to imbibe the culture of hand washing at all times as this will make them healthy and have enough time for their studies.
Over 250,000 pupils from 100 selected schools participated in the global hand washing campaign.
