By Tosin Kolade
Handwashing is a simple, yet powerful practice that can greatly improve public health.
In Nigeria, where waterborne diseases, poor sanitation, and limited healthcare resources affect millions, fostering a robust handwashing culture is crucial.
The importance of handwashing has been demonstrated during major health crises, such as the Ebola and COVID-19 outbreaks.
In 2014, during the Ebola outbreak, stringent hand hygiene practices, supported by widespread awareness campaigns, helped the country contain the virus within three months.
Public spaces such as markets, offices, and schools were equipped with handwashing stations, making hygiene a communal responsibility.
Similarly, during the COVID-19 pandemic, handwashing emerged as a primary defense against the virus, with government-led initiatives promoting hand hygiene as a national priority.
For instance, the deployment of mobile handwashing units in densely populated areas played a crucial role in slowing the virus’s spread.
Amaka Elendu, a nursing mother in Nyanya, a satellite town in the FCT, vividly remembers the fear and anxiety that gripped her neighbourhood during the Ebola outbreak in 2014.
With a six-month-old baby, she was desperate to protect her child from the deadly virus.
She learnt the importance of handwashing with soap and water during an immunisation seminar at the Nyanya General Hospital.
“At first, I thought washing my hands so many times a day was unnecessary, but I started noticing fewer illnesses in my family, especially with my baby.
“Before this, my son had frequent bouts of diarrhoea, once we made handwashing a habit, those episodes stopped completely”.
Now, nearly a decade later, Amaka remains an advocate for hand hygiene in her neighbourhood.
She ensures her children wash their hands regularly before eating, after playing outside, and after using the toilet.
“Handwashing saved my family. It is a habit I will teach my children to pass on to theirs, ”she added.
Shekwo Joseph, a primary school teacher in Kuje, became a local hero during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He led a handwashing campaign at his school, teaching students the ‘20-second rule’ and the proper way to wash hands with soap.
He even helped set up a tippy-tap handwashing station made from locally available materials.
“At first, some parents didn’t understand why we were so strict about handwashing, but when fewer children started missing school due to illnesses like diarrhoea and flu, they became supporters”.
The teacher didn’t stop at the school gates; he visited families in his community, sharing handwashing tips and demonstrating how to set up simple handwashing stations at home.
His efforts paid off when a suspected disease outbreak hit the area, but none of his students were affected.
These personal stories complement the broader statistics, showing that handwashing is not just a theoretical solution but a practical and life-saving practice.
According to a UNICEF/WHO report, preventable diseases like diarrhoea and cholera are major causes of death in children under five, responsible for nearly 19 per cent of fatalities in this age group.
The report also reveals that over 60 million Nigerians lack access to clean drinking water, and 48 million practice open defecation, exacerbating the spread of waterborne diseases.
It states that only 40 per cent of healthcare facilities in Nigeria have basic Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services, severely hindering health workers’ ability to promote and enforce proper hand hygiene.
Studies by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveal that handwashing with soap can reduce diarrhoeal diseases by up to 40 per cent and respiratory infections by 23 per cent.
The centre says that promoting handwashing can drastically improve public health outcomes, especially for vulnerable populations such as children.
According to the World Bank, every dollar invested in water and sanitation yields an economic return of $4.30.
The bank also states that better hygiene infrastructure empowers women, allowing mothers to spend less time on medical care and more on economic activities.
Many health experts believe that addressing the barriers to handwashing in Nigeria require a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach through huge investments in water and sanitation infrastructure.
They say public health campaigns, especially in schools, can raise awareness about the importance of handwashing with community leaders and traditional rulers helping to foster lasting behavioural change.
It may be recalled that the UNICEF had expressed concerns over Nigeria’s low handwashing rates, with just 17 per cent of the population practicing proper handwashing at critical times.
Dr Jane Bevan, UNICEF Chief of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), stressed the importance of making handwashing a social norm, noting that it is crucial for public health.
“We need to move beyond just thinking everyone should wash their hands and start holding people accountable when they don’t.
“If you see someone eating without washing their hands, call them out, such behavior could lead to illness”.
She urged individuals to become ‘ambassadors for handwashing’, encouraging others to wash their hands before eating and after using the toilet.
As noted by Joy Aderele, Country Director for Self Help Africa, the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated how handwashing can mitigate disease transmission.
She emphasised the importance of hand hygiene at an event marking Global Handwashing Day 2024, especially in the fight against infectious diseases.
“It’s hard to forget the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: the death tolls, lockdowns, social distancing, and isolation.
“We also remember how handwashing became a critical strategy to prevent the virus’s spread. While the pandemic has passed its peak, handwashing with soap remains as essential as ever”.
She cited statistics from the National Centre for Preparedness, Detection, and Control of Infectious Diseases, which stated that “80 per cent of germs are transmitted by unclean hands touching contaminated surfaces”.
According to her, this ongoing battle against infectious diseases highlights the vital role of hand hygiene, which is the focus of Global Handwashing Day.
Aderele added that Nigeria carries one of the heaviest burdens of child mortality from diseases related to poor WASH, such as diarrhoeal diseases.
Also, Mr Benson Attah, National Coordinator, Society for Water and Sanitation, believes that building wells, water stations, and hygiene facilities, particularly in rural areas, can make it easier for people to adopt handwashing.
According to him, public health campaigns, including those targeting schools, can raise awareness about the importance of handwashing.
He stated that the Nigerian government should allocate resources to improve water and sanitation infrastructure in schools, hospitals, and public places, as well as implement policies that mandate hygiene practices.
For Dr Edwin Isotu-Edeh, National Consultant for Public Health and Environment at WHO Nigeria, prioritising handwashing is more than just a public health issue; it is essential for national development.
He believes improved hygiene can help Nigeria achieve its development goals by reducing child mortality, increasing productivity, and empowering communities.
He highlighted efforts to combat the cholera outbreak in Lagos, including the installation of handwashing stations and the donation of hygiene materials to 10 healthcare facilities.
He also noted that WHO is implementing Sanitation Safety Plans (SSP) in five states, underscoring the importance of protecting healthcare workers before responding to emergencies.
Isotu-Edeh encouraged Nigerians to make hand hygiene a daily habit for disease prevention, particularly after using the toilet, preparing food, changing diapers, or handling animals, and to promote the practice to others.
Similarly, Mr Nanpet Chuktu, a WASH Specialist at WaterAid, says handwashing with soap and water is crucial in preventing diseases and saving lives.
He acknowledged progress made since the COVID-19 pandemic but pointed out a significant gap between awareness and actual practice.
Quoting the 2021 WASHNORMS survey, Chuktu noted that while 99 per cent of households are aware of at least two critical times for handwashing, only 8 per cent practice it correctly.
He stressed that recent cholera outbreaks highlight the continued importance of this year’s theme and called for greater efforts to promote handwashing through behaviour change and education.
Chuktu also urged a review of the National Hand Hygiene Roadmap, launched in 2022, as its 2025 target date approaches.
It may be recalled that the Federal Government has announced plans to integrate hand hygiene into Nigeria’s national response and long-term development strategies.
Speaking recently at the 2024 Global Handwashing Day event in Abuja, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to embedding handwashing practices into national resilience plans.
He, therefore urged institutional actors to support efforts to expand hygiene initiatives across communities.
The minister noted the need for a multi-faceted approach, including public awareness campaigns, accessible hygiene facilities, regular monitoring, and behaviour reinforcement.
He emphasised that handwashing facilities should be available in all households, schools, healthcare facilities, workplaces, and public spaces, ensuring accessibility for people with disabilities to promote equitable hygiene practices.
All in all, stakeholders believe that the lessons from the Ebola and COVID-19 outbreaks should remind us that handwashing is not just a temporary solution but a long-term necessity.
They say by committing resources and raising awareness, Nigeria can build a culture of hand hygiene that safeguards its future. (NANFeatures)
