BY SOLA OGUNDIPE & CHIOMA OBINNA

WITH cholera ravaging communities across the nation, the need for Nigerians to adopt the simple intervention of proper hand washing with soap, has become more necessary than ever.

As one of the most cost-effective public health interventions, hand washing with soap is being promoted as a means of significantly reducing the burden of diseases such as diarrhoea by as much as 40 percent.

But studies show that just 39 per cent of children with diarrhoea in countries like Nigeria have access to the recommended treatment.

It was in recognition of these and other facts that the Departments of Public Health and Sanitation in conjunction with Unilever Nigeria Plc., kicked off a campaign aimed at defeating diarrheoa through promotion of hand washing with soap.

The campaign is to moblise no less than five million Nigerians to pledge to defeat diarrhoea through utilisation of platforms such as texting “defeat” to 20050, socialising on facebook.com/lifebuoySoap and physically signing on to the campaign drive.

Findings have shown that multiple factors drive the high prevalence of childhood diarrhoea in Nigeria. However, improved sanitation, provision of adequate potable water, awareness about disease transmission in communities are necessary in communities to reduce diarrhoea.

Consultant Paediatrician/Head, Olikoye Ransome Kuti Children Emergency Room,LUTH, Dr. Babayemi Osinaike, said one of the factors driving the transmission of disease includes lack of awareness on the benefits of hand washing with good water and soap.

Public surface

Osinaike, in his presentation entitled; “Addressing The Scourge Of Diarrhoea Through Hand Washing” explained that most critical times to clean the hands are before and after meals and snacks, before caring for young children and after touching a public surface.

Others are before and after preparing food, especially raw meat, poultry, or seafood, after using the restroom, when hands are dirty, after touching animals, and after interacting with someone who is ill.

Also speaking, MD, Unilever Nigeria Plc, Thabo Mabe, said the occasion marks the announcement of a world record-breaking pledge in this great country Nigeria.

“Turning hand washing with soap before eating and after using the toilet into an ingrained habit could save more lives than any single vaccine or medical intervention, cutting deaths from diarrhoea by almost half and deaths from acute respiratory infections by one-quarter,” he said.

He said that : “The guiding vision for the creation of Global Hand washing Day is to help educate children about the importance of hand washing with soap and water – encouraging them to do it at home, at school and in their communities.

“Lifebuoy soap is encouraging millions of people to pledge to always hand wash before meals! Make your pledge today to defeat diarrhea” he noted.

Dr. Mobolanle Balogun, of the Nigerian Infection, in Nigeria, diarrhoea is responsible for 16 per cent of all childhood mortality.”

Brand Building Director, Unilever Nigeria Plc, David Okeme, said “This year on Global Hand washing Day we are encouraging everyone in Nigeria to take one simple step towards creating a healthier nation.