Dr Linda Ayade performing symbolic washing of hands
Betta Edu|16 October 2016
Nigeria celebrated the Global hand washing day yesterday at Musson Center Lagos with Dr Linda Ayade, wife of the Governor of Cross River State; Sanitation Ambassador taking the center stage because of her leading role in getting children across Nigeria to imbibe the culture of washing their hand often.
Dr. Linda Ayade in her speech said Hand washing saves lives; as such if children across the nation could wash their hands before eating and as often as posible, we will have less hospital visits with less resources lost to medical bills. She went further to say "A few days ago, someone asked me why something as ordinary as washing my hands would be celebrated all over the world on a specific day. I found the question both funny and intriguing but a sad reflection of the prevailing perception in our country today'.
You would recall that in 2014, Africa experienced the outbreak of Ebola that killed thousands of people according to WHO report, We are all aware that 8 Nigerians also died as a result of this disease.
During those days, hospitals, schools, banks, churches and offices in the country, setup basins for handwashing outside their entrance – some organizations even stationed security personnel by their entrances to ensure that everyone washed their hands, or ‘no entry’!
Unfortunately, once the danger of Ebola seemed to have been averted, the handwashing basins disappeared and the practice of handwashing seems to be lost.
This year’s theme of ‘Make Handwashing a Habit’ is apt as handwashing is the single most effective way of preventing killer diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, typhoid, ebola etc; that takes the lives of over 150,000 under-fives annually".
She noted that her pet project Mediatrix Development Foundation has adopted Child-focused Advocacy strategies and is working with schools across the state in two projects, the Clean Hands Campaign and the Hunt Malaria Initiative. "The choice to work with school children stems from our realization that they are the future and also because they can take the message home to their families and communities we will intensify our efforts even beyond CRS".
The Head of Concern Universal Nigeria said "Concern Universal in partnership with the Cross River State Government, are focusing on Sanitation and Hygiene. The interventions he noted has reached an estimated 1,200 communities with over 300,000 people now reaping the benefits of living in environments that are free of open defecation and are practicing safe hygiene. Hr called on other states to emulate CRS and Dr Linda Ayade to save lives.
Director Corporate Affairs and Admin of PZ cussons Mrs Yomi Ifaturoti said PZ are interested in the health of their young children across the nation. PZ is ready to continue partnership through their foundation to reach out to more children in Nigeria. She applauded Cross River State for standing out in sanitation and hygiene as well as Open Defecation free project. She encouraged Lagos state to key in and save more lives in lagos state.
Head of Open Defecation Free Project in Nigeria praised Dr. Linda Ayade for her commitment to improving health, sanitation and Hygiene. She also thanked CRS government for the strong partnership that has lead to most LGAs in CRS being Open Defecation Free (ODF). She called on lagos state to key in and make lagos state ODF.
Highlight of the event was hand washing Demonstration by the wife of the Governor of CRS Dr Linda Ayade accompanied by the Director General Cross River State Dr Betta Edu, Head of Concern Universal Nigeria, representative of deputy Governor of Lagos state, Directors in PZ and representatives from Federal Mins. Of Water Sanitation.
Global hand washing song was performed by famous CRS born artist Sunny Eneji and inter school competition on which school can best interpret the hand washing theme for the year with musical performance. DR. LINDA Ayade presented the winning team with an award.
Betta Edu
Is the maiden Director General of Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency
