To international
organisations and researchers, the act of washing hands with soap or ash
and water reduce the incidence of diarrhoea among children under five by almost
half, particularly when it is done at critical moments like after using the
toilet and before handling food.
Despite
the huge benefits in the act, information reveals that about
157 million Nigerians lack access to hand washing facilities in the country.
The absence to the facilities is more pronounced in hospitals,
schools
and hospitality establishments across the country.
“About 60,000 children under five in Nigeria die each year because
of diarrhea linked to dirty water, poor toilets and poor hygiene, the statement
noted that hand-washing reduce the loss of nutrients and stunting in children
under five by 15 per cent,” according Oluseyi Abdulmalik, WaterAid
Communication Officer, in a statement marking 2018 Global Hand Washing Day.
In places where the facilities are available, evidence
has shown that adequate maintenance, washing supplies among
others remain elusive. It is high time that Federal
Government stop the rhetoric
of urging Nigerians every year to practice hand washing and move to working
out plans and implementation strategy towards making hand-washing facilities
affordable and accessible to every citizen.
These insights indicate that opportunities exist for Nigerians,
especially prospective entrepreneurs and facility management companies. Governments and FM companies need to create
awareness about the essence of having washing hand facilities at workplaces,
homes and other critical facilities in the country.
Infoprations expect the companies and prospective entrepreneurs to
capture values from the populace who must have understood the importance of
washing hands daily.
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