From Julius B. Kezi
As part of activities marking the Global Handing Washing Day, observed on 15th October annually, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene of Nigeria (WASH) held a sensitization drive in primary schools for pupils to imbibe the culture of proper hand washing.
Speaking during the flag-off of the exercise at some public and private schools in Jema’a Local Government, NOA Chief Orientation and mobilization officer, Mr. Gimba kure Nuhu and WASH Coordinator of the Area, Mr. Yahaya Adamu said the 2016 Global hand washing Day centres on sensitizing children, to “Catch them young” to enable them make it a life style, as they grow to adult hood”
Mr. Gimba Nuhu and Yahaya Adamu said some of the benefits of proper hand washing, whenever a person handles things, particularly after using the toilet or farming, include elimination of germs, harmful substance, which may cause illness and limit life span.
They said hand-washing reduces economic wastage on medication and promotes the achievement of life goals, stressing that “prevention is far better than cure”.
Demonstrating on how proper hand washing is done both NOA and WASH officers used Y and crossbar sticks on which bottles of water and soap were hung, with another stick to pedal the water bottles to enable a person wash hands with ease.
They said soap or local ash (potash) could be used in washing from the palms, in between fingers unto the hands, before rinsing with clean water and the hands held horizontally for water to drip or be cleaned with clean handkerchiefs or towels.
Pupils and students were admonished to cut their finger nails and share the message of proper hand washing with their parents and friends.
During the demonstration exercises, pupils were allowed to perform the hand washing and ask questions, to ensure they understood.
In their separate remarks, the Education Secretary Jema’a Local Government, Mr. Joseph Kyari and head teachers of the schools visited, expressed gratitude to government , NOA and WASH for the choice of their schools to flag-off, what they described “an important exercise that would promote healthy living”.
They assured that pupils would be made to imbibe the hand washing as life style, which they believe will reduce their chances of getting ill that might lead them to stop schooling.
Fielding questions after the demonstration exercises, Yahaya Adamu and Mr. Nuhu Gimba said WASH/NOA has made hand washing a routine campaign until Nigerians made it a life style.
The handwashing campaign were carried out at Model Practicing School Garaje, Head Start Academy, Model Primary School Takau, Madarasatul Nurul Isamic School, Aliyu Waziri Model Primary School, LGEA Ungwan Baki kaninkon and kaduna State Rehabilitation Board, all in Kafanchan.
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