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Stakeholders Bemoan Challenges Of Handwashing Practices

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6 years ago

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Stakeholders in the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Sector have bemoaned the challenges of hand washing practices with soap in the country.
Mr Emmanuel Awe, the Director, Water Quality Control and Sanitation in the Ministry of Water Resources said this while declaring open the Nigeria Handwashing Roundtable meeting on Wednesday in Abuja.
The meeting was organised by the National Task Group on Sanitation (NTGS) with support of the Global Handwashing Partnership and Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC).
The meeting was aimed at reviewing the challenges and how to effectively create awareness on the practice of hand washing with soap.
“In the WASH sector, sanitation is often seen as the orphan, receiving little attention and funding.
“But much more so is hygiene, which is indicated under the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) six as availability of hand washing facilities with soap and water.
“Hand washing with soap is considered as an affordable, accessible “do-it-yourself” vaccine for sanitation and hygiene related diseases like diarrhea, cholera, typhoid fever among others that are prevalent in our communities.
“It is estimated to cut death from diarrhea by almost half and deaths from acute respiratory infections by a quarter. It also helps to ensure the sustenance of effort to end Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) which are endemic in some communities,” he said.
Awe said in Nigeria, about 100,000 children under the age of five die annually due to diseases caused by poor sanitation and unhygienic practices, which about 33 per cent of the children are stunted, limiting their mental development.
The director said according to the 2018, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene National Outcome Routine Mapping (WASHNORM) Report, national access to basic hygiene services was 21 per cent with an estimated 150 million people lacking access.
“In schools and health care facilities, access to basic hygiene is 28 per cent and 40 per cent respectively, while only five per cent of public places such as markets and parks have hygiene facilities.
“The absence of WASH facilities, including hand washing stations in schools, healthcare facilities and workplaces are equity issues for girls and women, particularly for menstrual hygiene management.
“The availability of hand washing stations can stop the spread of diseases in these setting. It must be noted that the benefits accruable through provision of these facilities depends on the utilisation.
“Behaviour change is required for people to wash their hands consistently at key times,” Awe said.
Mrs Chizoma Opara, the Acting Coordinator Clean Nigeria, said that the ‘Clean Nigeria:Use the Toilet’ campaign under the National Programme was aimed at ending open defecation by 2025.
Opara said that the campaign would be officially launched on Nov. 19 by President Muhammadu Buhari to improve sanitation services in the country.
“The campaign will have integral component, hygiene promotion with emphasis on hand washing at critical times to break oral-route diseases transmission.’’
Mr Ron Clemmer, the Global Handwashing Partnership, Washington, U.S., said that hand washing was critical all the time in households, schools, healthcare, workplaces and emergency situations.
Clemmer noted that only 19 per cent of the world’s population particularly wash their hands with soap after contact with feaces.
He noted that only 20 per cent of people wash hands before preparing food, while only 31 per cent of health workers practices proper hand hygiene at critical time.
He said “findings shows that lack of hand washing with soap is a global risk present in all regions and it is a reminder that this nexus of risk is relevant to all countries, not just the poorest.’’
Mrs Elizabeth Warmera, a representative of Water Supply, Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) Office, Geneva, Switzerland said that the SDG six for Water and Sanitation, hand washing with soap was an essential factor.
She said this contributed to other SDGs on zero hunger, child survival, nutrition, good health, among others.
“This has the power to improve access to education for children, protect the health of patients and reduce inequalities which cuts across other goals,” she said.

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Environment

IWD: NGO promotes clean energy access for women in Kaduna

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6 days ago

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March 9, 2026

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An NGO, Bridge That Gap Hope for Africa Initiative (BTG) has distributed energy-efficient cookstoves to women in Kaduna’s climate-impacted areas to promote clean energy use and climate resilience.
The intervention covered communities in Chikun, Zaria and Zango Kataf local government areas, forming part of activities marking the 2026 International Women’s Day.
The initiative was implemented under the Women Empowerment and Climate Resilient Initiative (WECRI) supported by the Partnership for Agile Governance and Climate Engagement (PACE) programme.
Gloria Bulus, BTG Executive Director, in a statement on Friday, said the project seeks to address desertification, promote energy-efficient technologies and support inclusive environmental governance.
Bulus said women and vulnerable groups were prioritised because they were often the most affected by climate change while playing key roles in household energy management and community adaptation.
According to her, the clean cookstoves will reduce indoor air pollution, lower household energy costs and cut charcoal consumption by more than 50 per cent.
She added that the technology would also reduce tree felling and help curb deforestation in affected communities.
Bulus noted that many women and girls spend long hours sourcing firewood, exposing them to health and environmental risks.
She explained that the intervention would ease that burden while allowing women to devote more time to productive and income-generating activities.
The organisation said the initiative aligns with the 2026 International Women’s Day theme, “Give to Gain,” which highlights the value of investing in women for stronger communities and environmental sustainability.
4th lead
NEMA sensitises Jos traders to market fire prevention measures
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), yesterday organised a one-day sensitisation workshop to promote fire safety measures and prevent frequent fire outbreaks in Jos markets.
In a speech, the Head of Operations, NEMA North Central, Mrs Bintu Wana, said the workshop was designed to sensitise traders to the practical steps to reduce market fires.
Wana explained that the workshop dwelt majorly on the common causes and prevention of market fires, basic first aid knowledge and the formation and training of Market Emergency Response Team.
According to her, market fire prevention and response call for a collective and coordinated effort to mitigate its effect.
She emphasised that early reporting of fire hazards and strict adherence to safety guidelines could  significantly reduce the risk of dangerous and devastating market fires.
The Secretary, Plateau Traders Association, Chobe branch, Mr Raymond Ndukwu, thanked NEMA for organising the workshop for his members, describing it as timely and necessary.
Ndukwu promised that the association would work with NEMA and also help to cascade the knowledge acquired from the workshop to all its members.
He urged traders in the state to imbibe safety guidelines and also adopt better fire prevention practices.
The Tide source reports that the workshop was attended by representatives of the Plateau State Emergency Management Agency, Federal Fire Service and Red Cross Organisation, who educated traders on common causes of market fires and preventive measures.
The workshop is part of the agency’s ongoing effort to strengthen disaster preparedness and protect lives and property in major markets across Nigeria.
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Environment

AEPB rates performance of waste evacuation contractors low

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6 days ago

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March 9, 2026

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The Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) has decried the low performance of the waste evacuation and cleaning contractors, engaged by the Federal Capital Territory Administration to keep Abuja clean.
The Director, Mrs Kate Ogbonna gave the assessment during an interactive session with the contractors in Abuja, yesterday.
Ogbonna said she was overwhelmed with unsavoury reports from the supervisors who monitor the daily performance of the cleaning and waste contractors.
According to her, routine checks by the Board have shown that the contractors are lagging in their task.
“The reports at my disposal from our supervisors, who monitor the performance of the contractors are not too good.”
She called on the contractors to brace up and ensure proper and efficient waste evacuation across the Federal Capital City.
She said that the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, has been keeping his promise of paying the contractors on time, stressing that they, therefore, have no excuse not to deliver on the terms of agreement.
She acknowledged that there could be challenges, which were normal with every job, and advised the contractors to procure more equipment and engage more hands where necessary, to make their job easy and seamless.
The director reminded the contractors that they signed the contracts on grounds that they were capable, and assured them that the Board would assist where necessary.
Ogbonna explained that the meeting was to educate and guide the contractors on the full weight of their duties as waste managers and evacuators.
“We want them to know that there are standards and what we expect from them. We have set rules and agreements guiding their schedules.
“All we want is for the Federal Capital City to be clean,” she said.
Speaking on indiscriminate dumping of construction waste, the director said that the Board was working with the Department of Development Control to ensure that such waste were properly disposed of.
She appealed to residents and institutions doing businesses in the capital city to pay their waste and cleaning bills and procure the right size of waste bins commensurate with their residences and business offices.
She noted that waste removal and management was capital intensive, adding that residents need to do their part while the Board do its part.
“You cannot be owing and expect clinical waste removed.
“You cannot also have a bin meant for one household for a block of 10 flats and expect it to hold the waste you generate until the contractor’s trucks come around. It will definitely overflow and mess up the environment.
“To ensure Abuja capital city remains clean, devoid of pollution and epidemic free, all must do their part,” she said.
In his remarks, Mr Benjamin Enwerem, Director, Solid Waste Management, AEPB, said that some of the contractors have complained that most of the waste on the streets was being generated by night traders and funfare operators.
“These traders and funfare operators generate waste and litter the whole area, thereby, forming illegal waste dumps around residential and business areas.
“We have taken notice of this complaint and we will send our task force after them,” Enwerem said.
On the performances of the contractors, Enwerem said that although there were still lapses, the contractors were doing better by the day, noting that additional capable hands have been injected into the cleaning force.
On his part, Chairman, Association of Solid Waste Contractors, Mallam Ibrahim Babayo, acknowledged the unsatisfactory performance of the contractors and promised that they would improve.
Babayo also promised that the contractors would procure modern equipment and employ more hands to improve on routine evacuation of waste.
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Environment

Lagos State  Government Refuted Resumed Monthly Sanitation 

Published

2 weeks ago

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March 2, 2026

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The Lagos State Government on Saturday refuted an online media report claiming that the state had resumed the monthly environmental sanitation exercise.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, said no categorical statement had been made regarding the commencement date of the exercise.
Wahab explained that what he told newsmen after a project inspection tour last Sunday was that engagements with relevant stakeholders were still ongoing.
He said the state government had planned to begin with a sensitisation programme last week, but was constrained by logistics issues.
“The truth is, we were meant to start with a sensitisation programme last week, but we had a logistics issue. We need to find a day that is acceptable to all stakeholders,” he said.
He expressed optimism that the exercise might return very soon, adding that the official date would be communicated by the Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The commissioner urged law-abiding residents to continue their lawful activities without hindrance, assuring them that adequate notice would be given before the exercise was reintroduced.
The monthly environmental sanitation, previously held on the last Saturday of every month between 7.00 a.m. and 10.00 a.m., was suspended in November 2016 following a legal pronouncement restricting movement during the exercise.
However, renewed waste management challenges, including clogged drainage channels and indiscriminate refuse disposal, have sparked calls from residents for its reinstatement.
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