The minister speaking at the commemoration of the global hand-washing day in Abuja said that the government at the federal level has demonstrated the political will in curbing poor sanitation across the country stressing that it is the responsibility of the state government to provide healthy living condition in the states.
“The federal government often intervenes in states to ensure the provision of healthy water, but that is not to say that state governments should neglect their responsibility but wake up to the task”.
Adamu speaking further said there is a need for a more private sector investment and participation in the sector to promote sustained sanitation and hygiene service delivery across the nation.
“As we celebrate this year’s global hand-washing day and in the spirit of leaving no one behind and achieving the sustainable development goals, we must ensure that opportunities for hand-washing at critical times are provided at households, schools, health facilities, and other public places”.
The minister stressed that access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities is often a significant challenge for many people around the world adding that disparities occur in the access to sanitation facilities across wealth quin-tiles, geographical locations and among vulnerable groups.
“These facilities should be provided for the use of people with disabilities to ensure their accessibility, let us strive to eliminate the existing disparities and inequalities in access to sanitation facilities as we promote effective hand-washing through policy, and advocacy at all levels”
“We have made several efforts to improve on our stand in achieving open defecation free society, by developing initiatives such as PEWASH program, the national wash action plan, the launch of campaign to end open defecation and we have reached 14 local governments that are open defecation free, so we are making progress and there is need to ensure that we sustain these progress made so far.
Tanzim Rezwan, marketing director, Reckitt Benckiser, in his remark said that ensuring proper sanitation and hygiene often aids the fight against diseases and child mortality rate adding that Nigeria still bears a bigger portion of disease burden and child mortality rate.
He said, ” The clean Nigeria campaign aims to increase awareness on the importance of promoting hygiene across Nigeria”.
“Over the last six years we have been able to educate over 5 million children and mothers on proper sanitation through our school hygiene programs”, he said.
Oumar Doumbouya, UNICEF representative in his remark said that the importance of promoting handwashing activities in homes, schools and public places cannot be overemphasized as it has been identified as the most effective way to prevent communicable diseases, especially among children.
“We laud the government of Nigeria has shown by the declaration of a state of emergency to end open defecation by 2025 but there is more to be done”.
“Achieving proper hygiene requires the effort of everyone, through the use of toilets, provision of water and sanitation facilities, in homes and all public places”, he said
