The Bauchi State government has reiterated its commitment to improve access to clean water in communities in the state in order to promote the habit of hand-washing.
The State Commissioner of Water Resources, Alhaji Nuhu Zaki stated this during the commemoration of the 2024 Global Hand-washing day organized by the State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) in collaboration with the State Universal Basic Education Board(SUBEB) in partnershipy with Women Development Association for Self Sustainance (WODASS) with support from WaterAid Nigeria.
Represented by the permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water Resources, Engineer Samaila Mohammed Tella, the commissioner said that hand-washing is a simple act that can be performed anywhere and requires minimal resources of water and soap, stressing that the the impact is monumental as it prevent the spread of diseases such as diarrhea, Cholera and respiratory infections.
“Today as we mark this important day,let us remind ourselves of the power of hand-washing.I therefore urge parents, teachers, community leaders and health workers to be champions of hand-washing.Let us teach our children the importance of this life saving habit.Let us demonstrate it in our daily lives and encourage others to do it”
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“As we gather here, let us take a moment to envision what a healthier future looks like for Bauchi State, a future where every child can grow up healthy,free from the grip of preventable diseases and with every opportunity to Hand-washing is not just a routine, but a robust defense against diseases.Every year,millions of children around the world fall sick due to preventable diseases caused by poor hygiene practices” he said
He urged stakeholders to continue to advocate for improved sanitation, water and Hygiene, infrastructure in order to ensure that communities have the necessary tool to practice good hygiene.
Also Speaking, the Acting General Manager of the RUWASSA, Alhaji Adamu Sabo said that the Global Hand-washing day is observed on the 15th of October every year to increase awareness on the importance of hand-washing with soap as an easy, effective and affordable way of preventing diseases.
“As we join the rest of world to commemorate this day, I urge all of you to imbibe the habit of effective hand-washing at critical moments and include hand-washing before eating, after visiting the toilet, before breastfeeding amongst others” he said
A Representative of UNICEF also spoke about the importance of hand-washing among school children, saying that the practice will improve their health and boost their intellectual capacities.
