Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
UNICEF has expressed worry over the high percentage of feaces-contaminated water consumed in Abia State.
This is coming on the heels of a survey by Water Sanitation and Hygiene Natural Outcome Routine Mapping (WASHNORM), which has revealed that 73% of Abia residents drink water contaminated with ‘E. coli’ (feaces).
According to the survey, two per cent of people living in Abia still practice open defecation.
WASHNORM survey was a collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and the National Bureau of Statistics, with support from UNICEF, World Bank, the World Health Organisation and other development partners.
Addressing a zonal press briefing on Global Handwashing Day by UNICEF in collaboration with the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia, WASH Specialist, UNICEF Field Office, Enugu, Mrs Rebecca Gabriel said drinking of water contaminated with feaces posed seriously health risk to the people.
Calling on the relevant agencies to rise to the occasion, the UNICEF officer
advocated regular handwashing with soap and running water to reduce incidents of preventable diseases.
She appealed to Management of schools, hospitals, places of worship and and other public institutions and motor parks to provide handwashing facilities and water for visitors to such places.
Mrs Gabriel regretted that only 35% of schools, and 30% of health care facilities in Nigeria have access to basic handwashing facilities.
Citing the WASHNORM report, the UNICEF officer said only eight per cent of markets, motor parks and public places in Nigeria have access to basic handwashing facilities.
According to the report,167 million people living in Nigeria (83% of the population) do not have access to basic handwashing facilities.
Meanwhile, UNICEF has enumerated five critical times of handwashing to include: before preparing meals, before and after eating, before breastfeeding, after changing babies’ diapers, and after defecating.
UNICEF Officer in charge of Planning and Monitoring, Mrs Maureen Zubie -Okolo, who gave the theme of this year’s celebration as “Why Are Clean Hands Still Important,” re-stated the commitment of UNICEF to promoting hand hygiene.
She said: “UNICEF is committed to promoting hand hygiene among the communities we serve. We believe that by fostering a culture of handwashing, we can contribute to a healthier and safer world for all. UNICEF supports national handwashing campaigns and helps integrate handwashing into other existing programmes – like health, education and nutrition – in over 90 countries.
“Together with governments, we develop handwashing policies, strategies and action plans to promote handwashing and make services and supplies available. This includes hand hygiene in school policies and health-care facilities. In collaboration with the World Health Organisation, we monitor handwashing in households, schools and health-care facilities around the world.”
She said UNICEF had supported hand hygiene initiatives to combat some of the worst epidemics, including Ebola and cholera, for many years.
She appealed for collaboration of all stakeholders to achieve universal hand hygiene.
UNICEF also called on governments to integrate and budget for hand hygiene in national response and resilience plans, as well as long-term development strategies.
“Donors should invest in programmes that prioritise hand hygiene, promote access to hand hygiene facilities, and support public health and economic resilience.
“Suppliers should collaborate with governments, health systems, and NGOs to ensure sustainable supply chains for hand hygiene products. Businesses should prioritize hand hygiene for employee health and safety. Institutions should implement a multi-faceted approach for hand hygiene, including promotion, accessible facilities, regular monitoring, and behavior reinforcement.”
“Academics should fill evidence gaps and translate research into practical resources for hand hygiene intervention and program development,” UNICEF said.
Contributing, the Acting General Manager of BCA, Apostle Francis Nwubani, urged members of the public to be more intentional about handwashing in view of its numerous benefits and the risks of non-compliance.
The DG who was represented by BCA UNICEF Desk Officer, Okezie Nkpa, expressed continued collaboration with UNICEF in sensitising members of the public on the need for handwashing.
Adding her voice, the Acting Managing Director, Enugu State Rural Water Supply & Sanitation Agency, Mrs Chika Mbah, stressed the importance of handwashing with soap and running water, saying it helps to reduce the spread of diseases.
The ENRUWASSA boss who was represented by Chioma Dick-Emmanuel, regretted that although handwashing is a simple exercise, many people find it difficult to observe.
Speaking earlier, Communications Officer, UNICEF Nigeria Field Office, Enugu Dr Ijioma Onuoha-Ogwe, appealed to media practitioners in the zone to assist in the sensitisation of members of the public on the immense benefits of handwashing.
She also appealed to necessary stakeholders to consciously provide handwashing facilities both in homes and public places.
Meanwhile, discussants at the press briefing during an interactive session, attributed the high level of contaminated water in Abia to the effects of contamination by the population of residents still practicing open defecation.
According to them E. coli (feaces), when it infiltrates streams or water, duplicates bacteria in a very short time, multiplying rapidly.
They also attributed the disturbing findings of the survey to indiscriminate sinking of water boreholes near soak-aways and toilets.
Select media practitioners from states in South-East geopolitical zone attended the zonal press briefing.
