Martins Ifijeh
As part of efforts to reduces infectious diseases in Nigeria, ProswiftCare, a provider of personal and industrial hygiene care solutions, has called on Nigerians to imbibe the habit of regular hand washing to prevent contamination.
It said the culture of effective hand washing leads to prevention of transferrable diseases through touching, which transfers about 80 per cent of all communicable diseases, adding that it was a very cost-effective disease prevention solution.
Speaking during a sensitisation programme in Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area of Lagos State to commemorate the Global Hand Washing Day, the Executive Director, Proswiftcare, Mrs. Folashade Odebiyi, said washing with soap was a simple, effective behavior that save lives, noting that despite its benefits, far too often it was not practiced, hence the need to raise awareness.
With a survey of healthcare facilities in 54 countries, carried out by the World Health Organization and UNICEF, suggesting that 35 per cent of the facilities did not have soap and water for hand washing. Mrs. Odebiyi said this represents a serious risk to both patients and healthcare providers. “Hand washing matters for child survival, as 1.7 million children die each year as a result of diarrhea and pneumonia—two illnesses that are entirely preventable. Good hygiene is necessary for good nutrition, particularly for children in the first 1,000 days of life. Hand washing stations in schools and public places will definitely help in curbing transmittable diseases through touching,” she stressed.
At the sensitisation event, a short video presentation was made highlighting the importance of hand washing and the consequences of improper hand washing such as diarrhea and other illnesses. A quiz was given to children with a special prize awarded to a very enthusiastic winner, Aishat Musa from LUD School one. This was followed by a session of hand washing, where all the teachers and students had the opportunity to practice the proper hand washing techniques. All the teachers were given bottles of hand wash and hand sanitizers to encourage proper hygiene in their schools.
In attendance were the Sole Administrator of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government, Mrs. Fehintola Akaba as well as the Education Secretary of the local government, Hon. Aboluwodi Ademofe. Over 200 children drawn from the 48 primary schools in the Local Government and their teachers were in attendance.
ProswiftCare Nigeria Ltd provides personnel and leadership skills development solutions for organizations and institutions tailored to maximize the productivity and efficiency of the workplace.
