By Abbas Bamalli
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has taken the campaign on good hand washing across three selected primary schools in Katsina, aimed at promoting personal hygiene in communities.
Mrs Stella Terver, the WASH Programme Officer, UNICEF Kano Field Office, during the events in Katsina on Wednesday, said the campaign was to mark the 2025 Global Hand Washing Day.
She said that the campaign which was in collaboration with the state government was also to alert, sensitise and remind the children that effective hand washing is the panacea to optimal health.
She said that the campaign focused on ensuring that everyone, and everywhere, has access to this fundamental practice.
“It is the basis for our future. Effective hand washing and clean hands saves lives, and this year’s theme is talking about being a hand washing hero.
“So today, we created champions among the school children who will be advocating and sensitising other children in their environment regarding hand washing,” she said.
The programme officer noted that the UNICEF WASH section has the mandate for projecting and sensitising the public regarding hygiene promotion, especially in schools, public places and at community levels.
“So, we give hygiene talks everywhere, every day, every moment, and to everybody, because we believe hand washing is everybody’s responsibility.
“Every other year we’ve been going to primary schools, health centres, markets, churches, and mosques, but this year we chose only school children, because they are the future leaders, and to catch them young.
“At UNICEF, we’re very addicted to fostering the potential and the rights of the children. It’s our mandate to do that, and we cannot relapse or forget what we ought to do.
“UNICEF is targeting school children because they are the agents of change,” she said.
Terver pointed out that in sustaining the campaign, UNICEF had collaborated with the state’s Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and RUWASSA but still needed it to be multi-sectoral.
“If you look at what happened during COVID-19, you’ll recall that everybody was so conscious of hand washing because it’s the most effective means of reducing infection and controlling diseases.
“But COVID-19 taught us a lesson. Everybody was so conscious, knowingly or unknowingly, everybody was practicing hand washing.
“But along the line everyone relapsed; that is why we need to emphasise it every other day, every time, and every moment, wherever we find ourselves,” she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the campaign took place at Ahmadu Coomassie, Ibrahim Shehu Shema Model Science Primary Schools, and also Modoji Primary school.
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