In a deliberate effort to enhance hand washing with soap and water, the government of the United Kingdom in partnership with Self Help Africa (SHA), Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Sports Development and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has leveraged on youth inclusion to drive hand hygiene in Nigeria.
The Country Director of Self Help Africa (SHA) Joy Aderele while speaking during the flag off of the campaign in Abuja said that SHA will be focusing on the inclusion of Nigeria’s youth, particularly corp members in driving hand hygiene awareness across grassroots communities, with the goal to empower young people to become champions of hand hygiene in their communities, in tandem with the National Youth WASH Strategy.
“Nigeria has one of the largest youth populations in the world, with 63% of the population under the age of 25. This demographic, while vulnerable to hygiene-related problems, represents a significant opportunity as advocates for change. This is why we will be engaging Nigerian youths through the NYSC scheme to inspire behaviour change among Nigerians and reinforce the importance of proper hygiene in public health,” .
Aderele said research has shown that 80 percent of germs are transmitted by unclean hands touching contaminated surfaces, which makes hand hygiene essential in preventing communicable diseases, saying in Nigeria, the significance of hand hygiene is even more important due to high incidences of hygiene-related diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera, and respiratory infections.
She said that with less than one-third of Nigerians demonstrating proper handwashing techniques with soap according to the 2021 WASHNORM report, hand washing practices still need to improve.
Adele noted that the campaign was launched digitally on 15 October through an Instagram Live session with Aproko Doctor (Dr. Chinonso Egemba), a popular Nigerian health influencer, and Shadrack Shaaperaga Guusu, Head of WASH Programmes at SHA, has already reached thousands of young Nigerians.
Adele explained that the campaign is a month -long series of engagement aimed at raising awareness about the importance of hand hygiene under the theme of the 2024 Global Hand Washing Day “why are clean hands still important”.
Also speaking, the Health Adviser at Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) Dr Chidera Chukwu said the UK government is supporting the initiative following the 2021 Water, Sanitation and Hygiene National Outcome Routine Mapping WASHNORM survey which indicates that despite 99% of Nigerians knowing when to wash their hands only 8% practice proper hand hygiene.
He said the campaign is a call on the Nigerian youths , most especially members of corp members to become hygiene champions and advocate for sustainable health practices.
He stressed that the campaign aligns with FCDO’s goal of working closely with the Nigerian government and partners to build stronger and resilient systems through youth leadership and community involvement, saying they are excited to see how the Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Systems for Health Programme will drive the operationalisation of the Nation Youth Strategy.”
The Director Water Supply, Resources Federal Ministry of Water Resources Mr Babarinde Olusegun commended SHA for the effort in scaling up hand washing practices to the grass root.
He said the youth WASH program was launched in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Sports Development,as well as Water Resources and implemented by the NYSC, saying the ministry is focused on improving WASH infrastructures and policy implementation.