The United Nations Children’s Fund has called on Nigerians to adhere to hand washing practices as a tool in disease prevention.
In a statement to mark the seventh Global Hand Washing Day, the organisation’s representative in Nigeria, Jean Gough remarked that regular hand washing helps protect individuals and communities against some deadly diseases. The theme for this year is ‘Choose Hand washing, Choose Health.’
While noting the role that the practice played to curb the spread of Ebola Virus Disease in the country, Gough advised that hand washing should be a continuous practice.
She added that a good number of 150,000 children who die of diarrhoea every year as a result of unsafe water and poor sanitation can be saved through consistent hand washing practices.
“Hand washing with soap not only protects the individual, but also protects his or her family against the infections and prevents the spread of disease outbreaks. Everyone can choose to wash hands with soap after using toilet and before eating or preparing food and thereby protect themselves and their families.
“Nigeria has done well so far to contain the spread of Ebola. What Nigeria needs now is sustained promotion of hand washing. Let’s pledge to make hand washing with soap a national habit and reduce the number of Nigerian children who die from diarrhoea annually’, she added. To effectively deliver its message, she said UNICEF plans to reach more than 10 million Nigerians through demonstrations in public places such as schools as well as through road shows
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