Only 30% of schools, 8% of motor parks in Nigeria 've handwashing facilities - UNICEF

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Only 30% of schools, 8% of motor parks in Nigeria ‘ve handwashing facilities – UNICEF

By Steve Oko

UNICEF has decried the poor attitude of Nigerians towards handwashing, revealing that only 35% of schools, and 30% of health care facilities in Nigeria have access to basic handwashing facilities.

Citing a survey by Water Sanitation and Hygiene Natural Outcome Routine Mapping (WASHNORM), UNICEF also said only eight per cent of markets, motor parks and public places in Nigeria have access to basic handwashing facilities.

According to UNICEF, 167 million people living in Nigeria (83% of the population) do not have access to basic handwashing facilities.

UNICEF identified five critical times of handwashing to include: before preparing meals, before and after eating, before breastfeeding, after changing babies’ diapers, and after defecating.

Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Specialist, UNICEF Field Office, Enugu, Mrs Rebecca Gabriel who spoke during a zonal press briefing/seminar to mark this year’s Global Handwashing Day by UNICEF in collaboration with the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia, urged members of the public to take handwashing seriously.

She expressed concern over the findings of a survey by Water Sanitation and Hygiene Natural Outcome Routine Mapping (WASHNORM), that 73% of Abia residents drink water contaminated with ‘E. coli’ (feaces).

The report , according to her, also revealed that two per cent of people living in the state still practice open defecation.

The WASHNORM survey was a collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and the National Bureau of Statistics, with support from UNICEF, World Bank, the World Health Organization and other development partners.

She advocated constant handwashing with soap and running water to reduce incidents of preventable diseases.

Meanwhile, discussants at the event attributed the high level of contaminated water in Abia to catalystic effects of contamination by the two per cent of the Abia population that still practice open defecation.

According to them E. coli (feaces) when it dissolves into streams or water, duplicates bacteria in hours which keeps multiplying over a short period of time.

Indiscriminate sinking of water boreholes near soak-aways and toilets was also blamed for the high level of water pollution in Abia State.

Contributing, UNICEF Officer in charge of Planning and Monitoring, Mrs Maureen Zubie -Okolo, who gave the theme of this year’s celebration as ” Why Are Clean Hands Still Important”, re-stated the commitment of UNICEF to promoting hand hygiene.

She said:”UNICEF is committed to promoting hand hygiene among the communities we serve. We believe that by fostering a culture of handwashing, we can contribute to a healthier and safer world for all. UNICEF supports national handwashing campaigns and helps integrate handwashing into other existing programmes – like health, education and nutrition – in over 90 countries.

“Together with governments, we develop handwashing policies, strategies and action plans to promote handwashing and make services and supplies available. This includes hand hygiene in school policies and health-care facilities. In collaboration with the World Health Organization, we monitor handwashing in households, schools and health-care facilities around the world.”

She said UNICEF had supported hand hygiene initiatives to combat some of the worst epidemics, including Ebola and cholera, for many years.

She appealed for collaboration of all stakeholders to achieve universal hand hygiene.

UNICEF also called on governments to integrate and budget for hand hygiene in national response and resilience plans, as well as long-term development strategies.

” Donors should invest in programs that prioritize hand hygiene, promote access to hand hygiene facilities, and support public health and economic resilience.

” Suppliers should collaborate with governments, health systems, and NGOs to ensure sustainable supply chains for hand hygiene products. Businesses should prioritize hand hygiene for employee health and safety. Institutions should implement a multi-faceted approach for hand hygiene, including promotion, accessible facilities, regular monitoring, and behavior reinforcement.”

“Academics should fill evidence gaps and translate research into practical resources for hand hygiene intervention and program development”, UNICEF said.

Speaking at the event, the Acting General Manager of BCA, Apostle Francis Nwubani, urged members of the public to be more intensional about handwashing in view of its numerous benefits and the risks of non-compliance.

The DG who was represented by BCA UNICEF Desk Officer, Okezie Nkpa, expressed continued collaboration with UNICEF in sensitising members of the public on the need for handwashing.

In a remark, the Acting Managing Director, Enugu State Rural Water Supply & Sanitation Agency, Mrs Chika Mbah, stressed the importance of handwashing with soap and running water, saying it helps to reduce the spread of diseases.

The ENRUWASSA boss who was represented by Chioma Dick-Emmanuel, regretted that although handwashing is a simple exercise, many people find it difficult to observe.

Communications Officer, UNICEF Nigeria Field Office, Enugu Dr Ijioma Onuoha -Ogwe, appealed to media practitioners in the zone to assist in the sensitisation of members of the public on the immense benefits of Handwashing.

She also appealed to the media practitioners to exploit their agenda -setting role to pressure government and relevant stakeholders to take steps to encourage handwashing.

The briefing/seminar was attended by select media practitioners from states in South East geopolitical zone.

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Steve Oko, Publisher/C.E.O, WaWa News Global. For more information on advert placement and news coverage, contact us on: 08038725600, or via email stevemanofgod2000@yahoo.com; wawanewsglobal@gmail.com Always read WaWa News Global - Your most dependable online news platform for the latest breaking news in Nigeria.