Only 17% of Nigerians practise handwashing at critical times: UNICEF

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has raised concerns over Nigeria’s low handwashing rates, with only 17 per cent of the population practising proper handwashing at critical times.
Jane Bevan, UNICEF chief of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), communicated this during the 2024 Global Handwashing Day event in Abuja, themed “Why Are Clean Hands Still Important.”
Ms Bevan said there was a need to establish handwashing as a social norm, highlighting its significance in public health.
“We need to move beyond simply expecting everyone to wash their hands and start holding people accountable when they do not.
“If you see someone eating without washing their hands, call them out; such behaviour can lead to illness,” said Ms Bevan.
She urged individuals to become “ambassadors for handwashing” by encouraging others to wash their hands before eating and after using the toilet.
Ms Bevan also called on the members of the public to speak up if they saw someone leaving a public restroom without washing their hands.
Elizabeth Ugoh, the director of water quality control at the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, said the event was organised under the National Task Group on Sanitation (NTGS) to raise awareness about the importance of handwashing.
She said handwashing with soap was a cost-effective and efficient method to prevent sanitation and hygiene-related diseases.
Ms Ugoh expressed confidence that the collective efforts of all stakeholders would help establish proper hand hygiene practices in homes, schools, healthcare facilities, markets, places of worship, workplaces, and public spaces.
Global Handwashing Day, observed annually on October 15, is a United Nations-designated day aimed at raising awareness about the importance of handwashing with soap.
(NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette

Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

States
FG reaffirms commitment to modernising Nigeria’s museums
Defence minister Christopher Musa called on citizens to cherish their heritage and work together against forces that want to divide them.

Politics
APC chieftain unveils alliance to deepen grassroots mobilisation for Tinubu, Shettima re-election
APC chieftain Ibrahim Ajia unveiled the Ajia Progressive Alliance for Asiwaju/Shettima to galvanise grassroots support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

States
Presidency hails Uzodimma’s infrastructure drive in Imo
The presidency commended the scale and quality of infrastructure development in Imo.

Rights
Father uses hot iron to burn 10-year-old daughter’s private parts for bedwetting
The command’s spokesperson said that the suspect allegedly used a hot laundry iron to burn the private parts of his daughter’s body for bedwetting.

States
Abia govt warns new health workers against extortion, absenteeism
The Abia government has warned newly recruited healthcare workers against extortion, absenteeism, and other forms of misconduct.

States
Alleged bandits’ drug supplier arrested in Katsina
The police command in Katsina has arrested a suspected drug peddler, allegedly supplying illicit drugs to armed bandits in the Funtua council area.





