The wife of Jigawa State Governor, Hadiza Namadi, has urged women to embrace handwashing practices to enhance public health safety.

Mrs Namadi stated this on Wednesday during an event to mark the 2024 Globa Handwashing Day at Gandu village in Dutse Local Government Area of the state.

Represented by Aminu Dauda, Special Advisor to the Governor on Women Affairs, Mrs Namadi said handwashing and good personal hygiene habits prevent the spread of infectious diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera and respiratory infections.

According to Mrs Namadi, health remains a top priority, adding that the sample act of regular handwandwshing saves lives.

She, however, said that many residents in the state lack access to clean water and facilities to enable them to practice good personal hygiene habits.

“The significance of handwashing with soap cannot be overstated. It is one of the most effective and affordable ways to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. This is why today, as we celebrate Global Handwashing Day, we are reminded of the critical need to keep reinforcing this message, particularly in our schools, homes and public spaces.

“Teaching our children and communities about the importance of hand hygiene is a responsibility that we all share, and it is a message we must continue to promote, not just today but every day,” Mrs Namadi said.

She said that the government was fully committed towards improving the living standard of the citizens, stressing that the Namadi administration made significant strides in transforming the state by ensuring access to clean water and sanitation.

The government, she said, implemented viable interventions to upgrade water facilities to enhance supply of safe and clean water to communities, schools and healthcare centres.

Also, Managing Director of the Rural Water and Sanitation Agency, Abubakar Sidi, said improper handwashing accounted for 90 per cent of diseases in the state.

Mr Sidi advised women to wash their hands properly before breastfeeding their babies, adding that the agency installed solar power at the Gandu community to enhance access to clean water.

Also, the Director of Hygiene Promotion in the agency, Aliyu Mustapha, urged the residents to maintain good personal and environmental hygiene to protect themselves from diseases.

Mr Mustafa further conducted a demonstration to expose participants to proper handwashing.

Highlights of the event featured distribution of soaps and detergents to women. 

(NAN)