By Eche Nwaobasi
The first ever Global hand washing mapped out for every 15th October of every year throughout the world by the United Nations to promote the habit of hand washing in order to prevent diseases in humans was yesterday held in Umunya, Oyi L.G.A, Anambra State with fanfare as participants which made up of school children of Irene Menakaya Nursery and Primary School, Onitsha, St. Theresa High School, Umunya Youths sustainable networks hand-washing club etc. embarked on a road show throughout the town including the town market “Afor” to create awareness to hand washing.
Speaking to participants through a video zoom phone call, His Excellency Dr. Nabhit Kapur the permanent observer, Observer mission of the Pan African inter-government agency on water and sanitation for Africa to United Nation, expressed happiness and enthusiasm youths of South east of Nigeria are showing on the project of which he said the United Nation put up to promote cleanliness and sanitation among Africans in order to prevent spreading of diseases.
While lamenting effects of ravaging sickness in Africa caused by lack of good sanitation, he urged African countries to promote hand washing as one of the way to prevent diseases adding that the United Nation in order to ensure the problem was tackled decided to float the program tagged water sanitation in Africa in order to achieve this goal. Adding that the United Nation want the culture of hand-washing to be prioritized in Africa to reduce human contact of diseases.
On her part, Prof. Adaeze Menakaya, a diplomat and a foremost educationist who hails from Umunya who the founder and progenitor of the project who also spoke to participants through the same video zoom phone call commended members of the club as well as students and teachers of the participating schools and other people who attended the occasion for their commitment and interest on the programme stressing that with their interest that there still hope for general cleanliness to be maintained as well as eradication of disease in Nigeria environment just as she admonished all Nigerians to pay more attention to personal hygiene which entails washing of hands everytime adding that if they hearken to this that they will be hand washing heroes which was the goal of the programme.
Earlier in a lecture titled “effective hand washing”, Dr. Rose Amasiani, Health education officer, Ministry of Health, Awka, Anambra State lectured participants rudiments of effective hand washing noting that hand washing should be thorough with soap, running tap water and wiping with a clean towel.
While saying that many people in the country are ignorant on how to wash hands effectively, she emphasized the importance of hand-washing to prevent disease and stated that about 80 percent of ill health in Nigeria are as a result of most people’s inability to engage in effective hand washing.
Also speaking, Mr. Damian Egwuonwu, the coordinator of the programme while giving highlights of the programme explained that Global washing day is observed every 15th October of every year and was set up by United Nations to promote cleanliness and hand washing. He explained, that the event was mapped out by United Nations to draw global attention to hand washing with soap as one of the most effective and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives.
Contributing, Mrs. Franca Madike, a UNICEF desk officer under Anambra broadcasting service (ABS) urged all Nigerians to take the issue of hand washing serious noting that most of common sickness like typhoid, diarrhea etc ravaging citizens of the country are caused by inability of most of us to take issue of hand washing serious.