‘Poor Hygiene Kills 3.5m Children Annually’

It is now estimated that no fewer than 3.5 million children die annually due to poor hygiene stemming from poor hand washing.

The figures were made public by the Rivers State Commissioner for Water Resources and Rural Development, Ms Patricia Simon-Hart at a one-day campaign to commemorate Global Hand Washing Day in Port Harcourt at the weekend.

Ms Simon-Hart said the establishment of WASH in schools would promote hand washing amongst children since they are susceptible to contacting diseases due to their activities.

Among diseases listed by the commissioner that are transmittable from poor hand washing include, cholera, diarrhea respiratory problems.

Inaugurating the WASH club, Dame Amaechi called on the children to wash their hands after play in addition to after using the toilets and before eating.

The Governor’s wife identified the major cause of children ailments as stemming from poor environmental and water hygiene and enjoined people to promote hand washing in their homes, schools and peers.

She pledged the support of her pet programme, Economic Support Initiative (ESI) to the campaign, especially among indigent children at the grassroots.