The Borno government says it is intensifying efforts to promote proper handwashing and hygiene practices in schools and communities to prevent infections and improve public health.

Hassan Malgwi, the coordinator for Neglected Tropical Diseases at the Ministry of Health and Human Services, disclosed this in an interview on Wednesday in Maiduguri.

Mr Malgwi said the government organised awareness campaigns to commemorate the 2026 Global Handwashing Day, with support from Helen Keller International and other development partners.

According to him, handwashing with soap and clean water remains one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent infections and protect individuals, families and communities.

He said the 2026 theme, ‘Action Saves Lives—Clean Your Hands’, restated the need to make handwashing a regular daily practice rather than an activity observed only during special occasions.

Mr Malgwi explained that poor hand hygiene could facilitate the transmission of germs, leading to diarrhoeal diseases, respiratory infections and other preventable illnesses. He advised residents to wash their hands with soap and clean running water after using the toilet, cleaning children or handling waste, and before preparing food, eating or feeding children.

The coordinator stressed that effective hygiene promotion required access to safe water, sanitation facilities and functional handwashing stations, particularly in underserved communities.

Mr Malgwi added that handwashing should complement other hygiene interventions, including facial cleanliness and environmental sanitation, especially in communities affected by trachoma.

Mr Malgwi urged parents and caregivers to teach children proper handwashing from an early age, while calling on schools and health facilities to provide functional handwashing stations.

The director also urged traditional and religious leaders to mobilise their communities to adopt safe hygiene practices. He restated the need for sustained collaboration among government agencies, development partners, schools and community leaders to integrate hygiene promotion into routine public health interventions.

“Clean hands save lives. Let us make handwashing a habit, not just a celebration,” he said.

(NAN)