WaterAid-Nigeria, a non profit organization has disclosed that about 60,000 children under the age of five years die every year in Nigeria, as a result diarrhea infections.
Miss Oluseyi Abdulmalik, Communications and Media Manager of WaterAid Nigeria, made the disclosure in a statement on Sunday to mark the Global Handwashing Day.
October 15, every year is celebrated as Global Handwashing Day.
In the statement, Abdulmalik said, “We already know progress is not fast enough; about 60,000 children under 5 years in Nigeria still die each year because of diarrhea hat is linked to dirty water, poor toilets and poor hygiene.”
Arguing that everyone has a right to water , she said “our leaders must act to leave no one behind.”
She consequently called on governments to make the promotion of handwashing, along with water and sanitation to save lives a priority
Abdulmalik noted that washing hands with soap and water reduces cases of diarrhea by almost 50 percent, but lamented that on the average, around the world only 19 per cent of people wash hands with soap after defecation.
The statement quoted WaterAid Nigeria Country Director, Dr ChiChi Aniagolu-Okoye, as saying people should pay attention to their personal hygiene and take good diet as health boosters.
“Handwashing with soap and good food hygiene brings health and economic benefits.
“Handwashing with soap is essential for health workers, improving quality of care and reducing risk of cross-infection. It also makes children healthier.
“We are advocating alongside our partners, Action Against Hunger, to demand that governments should develop cross-ministerial coordination mechanisms between the WASH and nutrition sector championed at the highest level to support sharing of information and joint planning and implementation of policies.”
The WaterAid Communication Officer enjoined policy makers to prioritise nutrition-sensitive WASH interventions and include specific objectives to improve WASH within nutrition plans and policies.
“Clear entry points to integrate WASH and nutrition include behaviour change promotion and improvement of provision of WASH in healthcare facilities and schools,” she said.
She further recommended more investments to improve handwashing practice and access to basic handwashing.
Abdulmalik, admonished all citizens to participate in the WASH project, to achieve a healthier environment and country.
