World Hand Washing Day: Lagos State Govt Advocates Proper Hygiene By All

The Lagos State Government on Tuesday clamoured for proper hygiene amongst the residents in order to reduce the possibility of ailment and outbreak of diseases across the State.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tunji Bello, emphasised the importance of cleanliness while addressing the media as part of activities marking the 2019 Global Hand Washing Day with the theme: “Clean Hands for All”.

Bello said the theme for this year’s Global Hand Washing Day was very apt as it gives verve to the long-awaited drive to leave no one behind in the State Government’s Sustainable Development Agenda on healthy living.

He added that keeping the hands clean by washing them with soap and water frequently is the best practice that can ward off any form of germs that abound everywhere.

According to the Commissioner, hand washing with soap is a simple, yet an often neglected act that could avert spreading of germs to those around us and ensure staying healthy.

He said variations in access to proper hand washing facilities and behavioral change programmes can put individuals at higher risk for diseases that impact their health, education, and economic outcomes.

“According to UNICEF research, hand washing with soap has been cited as one of the most cost-effective interventions to prevent diarrhoea, other related diseases and deaths. It is one of, if not the easiest way of preventing the spread of infections and diseases” he said.

The Environment Commissioner stressed that the present administration is at the forefront of this initiative of promoting proper hygiene amongst the citizenry, thereby throwing its weight behind the move to achieve a cleaner, healthier and safer environment.

He further explained that the State Government participated in this year’s crusade through a wholesome sensitisation campaign to achieve behavioral change among the citizenry.

While revealing that the Ministry has identified children as major stakeholders in the campaign, he noted that a partnership with the six Educational Districts across the State through the Ministry of Education had conveyed information on proper hand-washing techniques, through the distribution of fliers, to forestall the outbreak of preventable diseases.

Bello urged all Lagosians to cultivate the habit of washing their hands mostly before eating, after using the toilet, after cleaning up a child, after blowing their nose, after touching garbage and animals, amongst others.

“At times, people might not engage in any activity with their hands but still come in contact with harmful micro-organisms. Everyone should encourage their children, wards, aged and peers to wash their hands at all times”, he emphasised.

“Regular hand washing, particularly before and after certain activities, is one of the best ways to remove germs, to avoid getting sick and to prevent the spread of germs to others. Make hand washing a way of life every day”, he stated.