A staggering 2.3 million people worldwide lack access to soap and clean water for handwashing, according to the Water Aid Nigeria, Lagos State.
Describing the situation as a dire global issue due to the inadequate access to proper handwashing facilities, the organization, during the 2023 Global Handwashing Day, noted that there is a pressing need to change the narrative regarding hand hygiene.
It was noted that in Nigeria alone, 117 million people lack access to proper hygiene services, as revealed by the 2021 Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene National Outcome Routine Mapping Survey (WASHNORMS).
Shedding light on the severity of the problem, the organization says, “Studies show that 2.3 million people around the world do not have soap and water to wash their hands at home, while one in three healthcare centres lack handwashing facilities.”
Country Director, Evelyn Mere, and Sanitation and Hygiene Consultant, Grace Uwadele, featured insights on the issue with students of Isiwu Grammar School in Ikorodu north local council development area on October 15, said this alarming data underscores the urgent need for improved hand hygiene.
Also advocating for, and emphasizing the importance of hand hygiene as a fundamental method of disease prevention, believing that it is imperative to redirect attention and resources toward this critical sector.
To materialize the vision that clean hands are indeed within easy reach, the organization said it is on the verge of undertaking the rehabilitation of sanitation facilities in the school and various public locations with Sabo, Itamaga, as well as improving water facilities in Idera, Parafa and Ita-Oluwo Communities in Ikorodu north.
The country director called on the Lagos State government, departments, agencies, permanent secretary, relevant state ministries, tutor-general, Education District II and agencies to increase funding for critical infrastructural and behavioural changes campaigns, which are all vital to achieving global hygiene targets.
They also noted that the commemoration of the day serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing global struggle for better hand hygiene and the pressing need for change, stressing that its commitment to improving access to proper sanitation services stands as a beacon of hope for millions in Nigeria, and beyond.
