Abuja:The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, has emphasized the necessity of collective action to improve handwashing practices to prevent diseases. He stated that handwashing with soap and water is essential and non-negotiable.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Utsev made these remarks during a news conference in Abuja in anticipation of the 2026 Global Handwashing Day, set for October 15. He highlighted handwashing as an affordable public health measure against diseases like diarrhea, cholera, typhoid, and some respiratory infections.
The theme for this year, ‘Be a Handwashing Hero!’, aims to promote consistent hand hygiene, particularly during disease outbreaks and public health emergencies. Utsev explained that being a handwashing hero requires commitment to washing hands at critical times and encouraging others to do the same.
He stressed the need for awareness campaigns to be supported by functional facilities, reliable water and soap supplies, and behavior-change interventions. Planned activities for the occasion include media campaigns, a road walk, and community sensitization, with the national celebration scheduled for October 15 at Kwali Area Council, Abuja.
Utsev called on state governments, development partners, civil society organizations, and the private sector to help expand access to handwashing facilities and strengthen hygiene education. The campaign aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 6.2, which targets adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all.
The Minister also urged the media to maintain public awareness before, during, and after the commemoration, highlighting its role in promoting behavior change and disseminating practical hygiene messages. He encouraged everyone to embrace the challenge of becoming handwashing heroes daily, not just on Global Handwashing Day.
Additionally, Mr. Ali Dallah, the Director overseeing the Permanent Secretary’s Office, called for ongoing public education and functional handwashing facilities to promote hygiene and prevent diseases. Represented by Mr. Habu Jamilu, Director of Water Quality Control and Sanitation, Dallah mentioned the ministry’s collaboration with stakeholders to enhance hygiene practices.
Data from Nigeria’s 2021 Water, Sanitation and Hygiene National Outcome Routine Mapping (WASHNORM) survey revealed that 69% of households lacked handwashing facilities on their premises. Although 99% of households knew at least two critical times for handwashing, only 17% had basic hygiene services, and just 8% of household heads demonstrated proper handwashing with soap under running water. The survey also noted that 23% of Nigerians lacked basic water supply services, highlighting significant gaps in access to water and hygiene infrastructure.