The Centre for School Health Education and Environmental Hygiene (CSHEEH) on Friday commemorated the 2025 Global Handwashing Day in Kuje, Abuja.
The event, held at Peace International Ambassador School, featured community sensitization, health talks, and recognition of local hygiene heroes.
CSHEEH Executive Director, Dr. Folasade Momoh, said the theme for this year, “Be a Handwashing Hero,” encourages individuals to promote clean hand habits and serve as role models in their communities.
She noted that handwashing with soap remains one of the most effective ways to prevent diseases and save lives.
“The theme urges everyone to champion hand hygiene in schools, communities, and workplaces,” Momoh said.
She added that selected pupils and community members were honored as Handwashing Heroes and are expected to lead by example, educate others, and support hygiene initiatives.
Momoh thanked the school management and event sponsors for their continued support.
In her remarks, the school proprietress, Mrs. Gloria Attah, described the event as a reminder of the life-saving power of handwashing.
“True heroes are those who make safe choices like washing their hands. Clean hands save lives,” she said, commending CSHEEH for choosing the school and reaffirming her commitment to children’s health.
Traditional rulers, community leaders, and parents were also in attendance.
Representing the FCT Director of Public Health, Dr. Dan Gadzama, the Head of the Health Promotion Division, Mrs. Hauwa Suleiman, described handwashing as a simple but powerful public health measure.
“It is the cornerstone of disease prevention and a key component of healthy living,” Suleiman said, urging Nigerians to adopt regular handwashing as a lifestyle.
She thanked the FCT Health Department for supporting the division’s participation in the event.
Individuals honored for their contributions to hygiene promotion included Dr. Gbenga Eweoya, Medical Director of Agape Biomedical Clinic, and Hajiya Salamatu Abdu Sabo, wife of the Kuje Area Council Chairman and founder of the 7th June Youth and Women Empowerment and Education Initiative.
Pupils Emmanuela Ugwu and Farouk Husseini were decorated as Global Handwashing Ambassadors.
The event featured health talks, handwashing demonstrations, and donations of hygiene products.
Five schools participated: Blossom Educational School, Laura Basic Academy, Goshield International School, Joshgar International Academy, and Peace International Ambassador School.
