The Executive Director, Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), Dr.Mohammed Dan-Hassan, says regular hand-washing with soap and water is an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases and have an overall healthy life.
Dan-Hassan said this in his address of welcome at a one-day sensitisation to commemorate the 2022 Global Hand Washing Day in Abuja, on Monday.
The 2022 Global Hand-washing Day themed “Unite for Universal Hand Hygiene” is a global advocacy day dedicated to increasing awareness about the importance of hand-washing with soap as an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives.
Dan-Hassan said that the hand was the first point of contact with micro-organisms and hand-washing played a significant role in reducing the transmission of outbreak related pathogens such as Cholera, Ebola and COVID-19.
According to him, the day is an opportunity to encourage people to maintain personal hygiene, including washing their hands, using hand sanitizers, and other appropriate toiletries.
“The day also observes government efforts in designing and sensitising the citizens regularly on hygiene.
“Practising hand-washing can contribute to an individual’s well-being, increase productivity, and much more, good hand hygiene is the foundation of disease prevention and control.”
Acting Chairman, FCT Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB), Alhaji Alhassan Suleh, who was represented by a Deputy Director, Mr Rabiu Kolawole, in his keynote address, said that it was now mandatory that students must wash their hands regularly in school.
”There should be hand washing materials at the gate and other strategic points in school even in the rural areas.
Earlier, Sapeyi of Garki, Alhaji Usman Ngakupi, stated that the hands were sensitive , because of contacts with a lot of activities, hence proper washing can prevent all sort of diseases.
The Emir of Jiwa, Alhaji Idris Musa, who demonstrated basic steps to effective hand-washing, advised the students to always keep their hands clean at all times
