ABUJA – AHEAD of the 2024 Global Handwashing Day holding on October 15, 2024, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr Joseph Utsev, Tuesday, counseled Nigerians to daily practice hand hygiene and not to wait until disease outbreaks.

Utsev stated this in his address during a media conference at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja, where he explained that handwashing with soap is not just a hygiene practice but a global health necessity.

Globally, October 15 is a designated day by the United Nations, for global advocacy on increasing awareness on the importance of handwashing with soap, which is an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives.

He said: “This year’s Global Handwashing Day theme, reflects an important question, “Why are clean hands still important?” While acknowledging that significant progress has been made in hand hygiene awareness, it is crucial that we maintain and improve hand hygiene behaviors beyond public health emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and cholera outbreaks.

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“Handwashing with soap is not just a hygiene practice but a global health necessity. It is critical to disease prevention and not only helps people improve their health, but also removes barriers to economic opportunity, allows children to learn and grow, and helps strengthen communities. It is considered an affordable, accessible “do-it-yourself” vaccine for sanitation and hygiene-related diseases like diarrhoea, cholera, typhoid fever and pneumonia which are prevalent in our communities. It is estimated to cut deaths from diarrhoea by almost half and deaths from acute respiratory infections by a quarter.

“Handwashing is a ‘first-line’ defence in preventing outbreaks and reducing the toll of both current and future pandemics. Handwashing with soap also helps to reduce antimicrobial resistance and ensure the sustenance of efforts to end Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).

“We know that this simple act can make the difference between health and illness, and even life and death. Yet, despite its proven effectiveness, many people across the globe lack access to the necessary resources, such as clean water, soap, and facilities.

“We are in dire need to accelerate access to hygiene services in Nigeria, in line with the Sustainable Development Goal Target 6.2, which is indicated by the availability of handwashing facilities with soap and water on premises. While we have a low access to handwashing services, a high knowledge of handwashing practices estimated at 99 per cent was reported in the 2021 WASH NORM Report.”

Meanwhile, the Minister reiterated that “the media plays a crucial role in this mission of reaching every Nigerian with the key messages of handwashing with soap.

“I therefore charge us to commit our words to actions. We must avail the opportunities for everyone to practice handwashing with soap at all times and build a culture of good hygiene practices. Let us remember that handwashing with soap is for all – great and small, young and old, rich and poor – leaving no one behind.”