The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged Nigerians to
imbibe the habit of washing their hands with soap before and after eating to avoid the spread of diseases.
Mr Taru Murindi, the UNICEF Water and Sanitation Hygiene (WASH) Specialist, made the call on Thursday in
Akwanga during a six-day capacity building for 32 participants from Nasarawa State on Community Infant and
Young Child Feeding Counselling.
Murindi said that hand washing was essential to boosting human health and urged regular practice before eating,
after eating and after toilet use.
He urged participants at the capacity building, sponsored by UNICEF in collaboration with Nasarawa State Primary
Health Care Development Agency, to intensify efforts toward educating their communities on the importance of hand washing
and its impact on human health and national development.
The specialist said “hand washing prevents the spread of diseases. It is one of the important aspects of disease prevention.
“It is a practice that must be done and must be promoted because it is important for general wellbeing.”
He also urged Nigerians to always keep their environment clean in the interest of their health and for the overall development of the country.
A medical practitioner, Dr Zakari Adam, said that the training was aimed at equipping nutritional health personnel with skills for effective healthcare service delivery.
He also urged Nigerians to ensure that they kept their environment clean and to always wash their hands to prevent the spread of disease.
Mrs Esther Auta, the Director of Primary Health Care, Akwanga Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, commended UNICEF for
sponsoring the training and called for its sustenance.
She said that health intervention by UNICEF had brought improvement in the health status of the people of the area.
Participants were drawn from Nasarawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency, as well as some nutrition specialists.