By Scholastica JOSEPH, Makurdi
The United Nations Children Fund, UNICEF, in collaboration with the Benue State Rural Water and Sanitation Agency, BERWASSA, has marked the 2021 Global Hand Washing day with a charge to Nigerians resident in the state to always wash their hands to prevent infectious diseases.
Desk Officer, UNICEF- BERWASSA, Benue state, Mr Adzaagee Douglas, who spoke to our correspondent in Makurdi, explained that the aim of the day is to make residents aware that basic hygiene starts with handwashing.
He stated that “if we all inculcate the habit of hand washing at all critical times with clean running water and soap, we can to large extent avoid common sicknesses.”
Adzaagee told The Abuja Inquirer that the IDPs camp in Gbajimba was selected to encourage the children in the camps that they have not been forgotten.
“We want them to bear in mind that though they have left their homes due to the herders-farmers crisis, they should not forget their basic hygiene practices.”
He also stated that in Ohimini, UNICEF and BERWASSA is scaling the entire LGA to Open Defecation Free, ODF.
Similarly, the medical director of Pampas Hospital, in Makurdi, Dr Aloysius Udoye, described handwashing as the easiest way to basic hygiene, saying most diseases in the under developed world is hand contaminated diseases.
“We are partly still suffering from infectious diseases, diseases that are partly preventable.
“Handwashing and keeping the environment clean is key to basic hygiene. Most of the diseases among children like diarrhea, dysentery can simply be prevented by washing your hands.”
He advised the general public to maintain rudimentary hygiene by washing their hands to enable them stay safe from preventable diseases.
Udoye said there was need to save money rather than spend it on diseases that can be prevented naturally.
The medical doctor called on the authorities to break the three vicious circle of ignorance, poverty and diseases by creating awareness and educating the general public on simple steps to cleanliness.
The theme for 2021 Global Hand Washing Day celebration is “Our future is at Hand: Let’s Move Forward Together”.
