By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
It has been lamented that some diseases that people suffer of today is as a result of the refusal to observe simple Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) practice, particularly, protocol of washing of hands with soap.
The assertion was made by Executive Chairperson of Misau LGC of Bauchi State, Alhaji Salisu Hussani Hardawa, at the Government Day Secondary School Misau in commemoration of the Global Hand Washing Day with theme: ” Why are Clean Hands still Important?”.
It was organized by WaterAid Nigeria with funding from DP World in partnership with Women Development Association for Self Sustainance (WODASS) and collaboration with the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) and the State Universal Basic Education Board(SUBEB).
The Chairperson said that,”Today, we are commemorating the Global hand Washing Day which is aimed at promoting the culture of hand washing in schools and in communities by extension.”
“However, the washing of hand should not be observed only today, it should be practiced every day in our schools, home and places of worship,” he added.
Salisu Hussaini added that, “If you wash your hands regularly, you are not only helping yourself, but the entire community because communicable diseases are gotten as result of contact with an infected person.”
The Council Chairperson further said that, “So, this practice of hand washing should be taken seriously to boost our health, this will in turn reduce regular visits to the hospital.”
He commended WaterAid, RUWASSA and other partners implementing the washing campaign in the state even as he urged school principals, teachers and Headmasters to instill in school children the practice of hand washing always and not to be observed only on the global hand washing day.
Also speaking, the Education Secretary, Misau Local Government, Alhaji Bala Muhammed stated that, practice of the washing of hands was very significant in the Islamic religion as every worshipper must wash their hands first before proceedings to other parts of the body.
According to him, Islam preaches cleanliness, hence the washing of hands is important as it help prevent one from contacting infectious diseases such as cholera, diarrhea amongst others.
In a remark, the Manager Admin and Finance of WODASS, Hajiya Suwaiba Lawan urged the local government Authority to scale up the provision of pad banks and soaps to other Secondary Schools in the local government Area.
She said that menstrual hygiene is so paramount for girls in order for them to be able to focus on their studies and walk with dignity.
The stakeholders in the education sector of the State commemorated the Global Hand washing day slated for the 15th October, where they advocated for the culture of the washing of hands with soap and water for school children as part of efforts to boost good hygiene practice in schools, thereby preventing communicable diseases and becoming ambassador of Hand washing to their respective communities.
Highlight of the occasion included practical demonstration of hands washing by WODASS, Child life game by RUWASSA and presentation by a drama group on Hand washing amongst others.
