COVID 19: NGO tasks Nigerians on proper hand washing, good hygiene

Wed, Mar 18, 2020
By publisher
2 MIN READ

Health

WOMEN Friendly Initiative (WFI), an NGO, has called on Nigerians to improve on their personal hygiene to avoid contracting infectious diseases such as coronavirus and Lassa fever.

Mrs Rosemary Adejo, the Programme Coordinator of the group, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gwagwalada on Wednesday.

Adejo said that improved personal hygiene, such as proper hand washing, would reduce the risk and spread of infectious diseases among residents.

“Hand washing has been proven by several studies to be the most cost-effective intervention in the prevention of communicable diseases.

“The private sector and academic institutions have key roles to play in using their platforms to promote safe hygiene messages in underserved communities.

“Individually, we have pivotal roles to play in keeping our communities clean and ensuring every person, irrespective of gender or sexual orientation, has access to hand washing facilities.

“Lack of inclusive hand washing facilities and ineffective hand washing promote some inequalities and place individuals at higher risk of contracting diseases,” she said.

The coordinator urged the public to keep their surroundings clean and regulatory wash their hands with soap and water and use hand sanitisers.

She said that Nigeria had a national strategy for the promotion of hygiene, which prioritised hand washing before eating, after using the toilet and after cleaning a child who defecated.

“We are calling on caregivers, healthcare workers and indeed every member of the society to practice hand washing at this critical times.

“I want to urge all Nigerians to promote hand washing and join the campaign to end open defecation in Nigeria,” she said. (NAN)

– Mar. 18, 2020 @ 11:25 GMT |

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