By Suzan Edeh
Stakeholders in the education sector of Bauchi State have commemorated the Global Hand washing day slated for the 15th October, where they advocated for the culture of the washing of hands with soap and water for school children as part of efforts to boost good hygiene practice in schools, thereby preventing communicable diseases and becoming ambassador of Hand washing to their respective communities.
The Stakeholders made the call at the Government Day Secondary School Misau in commemoration of the Global Hand washing day with theme ” Why are Clean Hands still Important”, organized by WaterAid Nigeria with funding from DP World in partnership with Women Development Association for Self Sustainance (WODASS) and collaboration with the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) and the State Universal Basic Education Board(SUBEB).
Speaking in an address, the Chairman of Misau Local government, Alhaji Salisu Hussani Hardawa lamented that some diseases that people suffer today is as a result of their refusal to observe simple hygiene of washing of hands with soap.
“Today, we are commemorating the global hand washing day which is aimed at promoting the culture of hand washing in school and in communities by extension.However, the washing of hand should not be observed only today, it should be practiced every day in our schools, home and places of worship”
“If you wash your hands regularly, you are not only helping yourself, but the entire community because communicable diseases are gotten as result of contact with an infected person.So, this practice of hand washing should be taken seriously to boost our health, this will in turn reduce regular visits to the hospital” he said
He commended WaterAid, RUWASSA and other partners implementing the washing campaign in the state even as he urged school principals, teachers and Headmasters to instill in school children the practice of hand washing always and not to be observed only on the global hand washing day.
Also Speaking, the Education Secretary, Misau Local government, Alhaji Bala Muhammed stated that practice of the washing of hands was very significant in the Islamic religion as every worshipper must wash their hands first before proceedings to other parts of the body.
According to him, Islam preaches cleanliness, hence the washing of hands is important as it help prevent one from contacting infectious diseases such as cholera, diarrhea amongst others.
Also Speaking, the Manager Admin and Finance of WODASS, Hajiya Suwaiba Lawan urged the local government authority to scale up the provision of pad banks and soaps to other secondary schools in the local government, saying that menstrual hygiene was paramount for girls in order for them focus in their studies and walk with dignity.
Highlight of the occasion include practical demonstration of hand washing by WODASS, Child life game by RUWASSA and presentation by a drama group on Hand washing amongst others.