Infections: RSG Harps On Hand Washing Sensitisation

The Rivers State Govern
ment has charged private organisations, religious groups and others to promote the habit of hand washing in their various offices and homes.
Commissioner for Water Resources and Rural Development, Chief Ibibia Walter who disclosed this at the 2016 Global Hand Washing Day in Port Harcourt, also described hand washing with soap as an effective and affordable means to prevent infections and save life.
According to the commissioner, “the two critical moments to wash hands are after contact with faeces, such as, using the toilet or contact with food.”
Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Paulinus Nwankwoala, he stressed the need for everyone to protect themselves, their families and their communities through hand washing with soap.
“It requires few resources, just soap and a small amount of water, yet the benefits are huge. I call on everyone present here, workers, students, civil society organisations, teachers and health workers to embrace hand washing as a habit, “this no doubt will save us some medical bills and save some lives”, he said.
Also speaking, the Acting General Manager of the Rivers State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RVWASSA) Mr. Jonathan Amadi said that the Global Hand Washing Day initiated on October 15, 2006 is being celebrated by governments, international institutions civil society organisation, private companies and others across the world.
Mr. Amadi said that the objective of the event was to raise awareness on the benefits of hand washing with soap or ash as well as advocate for the scaling up of group hand washing in all primary schools in 21 Niger Delta Support (NDSP) non- Focal LGAs in Rivers State.
According to him, the event focuses on schools and children because children suffer disproportionately from diarrheal and respiratory diseases and deaths.
According to him, “Global Hand Washing Day” aims at motivating children to embrace and share proper hand washing practices and place them as hand washing ambassadors. Global Hand Washing Day is observed October 15, every year, however, Rivers State celebrated the event on the 27th of October 2016 due to logistic challenges according to the RUWASSA boss.