Minister Calls for Inclusiveness – PRNigeria News

The Honourable Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman H.
Adamu, FNSE, FAEng has stated “…we must be inclusive when
addressing handwashing disparities as it occurs across wealth
quintiles, geographical locations and vulnerable groups”.

The Minister made the statement Thursday,
10^th October, 2019 in Abuja during the Ministerial
Press Briefing to commemorate the 2019 Global Hand washing Day with
the theme: “Clean Hands for All”.

In his address, Engr. Adamu noted that the absence of WASH
facilities (including handwashing stations) in schools, healthcare
facilities, and workplaces is an equity issue for girls and women,
particularly for menstrual hygiene management. The availability of
handwashing stations can stop the spread of diseases in these
settings and adapting these facilities for the use of people with
disabilities will ensure their accessibility.

The Minister maintained that behavior change is required for
people to wash their hands consistently at key times as it will
help to ensure the sustenance of efforts to end Neglected Tropical
Diseases (NTDs) such as River Blindness, Lymphatic Filariasis.
Onchocerciasis, Soil Transmitted Helminthes and
Schistosomiasis.

Adamu reiterated that October 15 of every year was
designated by the United Nations General Assembly as a global
advocacy day dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding
about the importance of hand washing with soap, which is an
effective and affordable way to prevent diseases.

Other activities lined up at the national level to commemorate
the 2019 Global Hand washing Day which is being co-ordinated by the
National Task Group on Sanitation(NTGS) include: the finals of the
Quiz Competition on WASH  organized for selected schools
across 10 States which will hold on Monday,
14^th October, 2019 at Rockview Hotel, Abuja,
symbolic hand washing and commemoration event on Tuesday,
15^th October, 2019 at Reiz Continental Hotel, Abuja
sponsored by Action Against Hunger, UNICEF and Reckyitt Benckiser,
engagement of the social media platforms of the Ministry and other
partners in actively creating awareness and disseminating key
messages on hand washing through this period and beyond.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Director of Water Quality
Control and Sanitation, Mr. Awe Emmanuel stated that the objective
of the commemoration is to create awareness of Hand washing with
soap, educate children on the importance of Hand washing and
hygiene against the background of the fact that “prevention is
better than cure”, involvement of Private Sectors to promote hand
washing and Sensitize Nigerians on the need to always wash their
hands with soap at the critical times.

The Press Briefing was witnessed by some Directors and staff of
FMWR, Development Partners and Civil Society Organisations
(CLOs).

Kenechukwu Offie (Mrs.)

Director (Information)