Imbibe Hand-Washing Culture, Minister Tells Nigerians

The Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu, has urged Nigerians to imbibe the culture of using soap to wash their hands many times to prevent diseases and improve the health of the nation.
Adamu made the call at a news conference to commemorate  the 2019 Global Hand Washing Day with the theme: “Clean Hands for All” yesterday in Abuja.
He said that the inequity in hand washing facilities and effective hand washing promotion programme would put individuals at higher risk for diseases that would impact their health, education and the economy of the nation.
”Approximately 15 per cent of the world population has a disability and accessing wash facilities is often one of the most significant challenges of their lives.
”This year’s theme reminds us that we must be inclusive when addressing hand washing disparity as it occurs across wealthy people, geographical locations and vulnerable groups.
”Hand washing with soap is critical to disease prevention and it not only helps to improve people’s health, but also removes barriers to economic opportunity, allows children to learn,  grow and help strengthen communities,” he said.
He said that the importance of hand washing was to help ensured the sustenance of effort to end Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) such as river blindness, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, soil transmitted helminthes and schistosomiasis.