WaterAid Nigeria has urged Nigerians to embrace regular handwashing as a life-saving habit, describing it as vital to safeguarding public health—especially in communities with limited access to clean water and hygiene facilities.
The Country Director of WaterAid Nigeria, Ms. Evelyn Mere, made the call in a goodwill message to mark the 2025 Global Handwashing Day on Wednesday in Lagos.
The event, themed “Be a Handwashing Hero,” was organized at the Ojodu Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, development partners, and civil society organizations.
Mere said the theme served as both a call to action and a reminder of everyone’s responsibility in preventing the spread of diseases through proper handwashing with soap.
“Handwashing is one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent diseases, yet millions still lack the facilities or awareness to practice it consistently,” she said.
She emphasized that clean water, decent toilets, and good hygiene form the foundation of public health, dignity, and prosperity—with handwashing at the core.
Citing the latest WASHNORM data, Mere noted that while 88 per cent of heads of households know at least two critical handwashing times, only eight per cent demonstrate proper handwashing behavior.
“This gap between knowledge and practice is alarming and requires urgent collective action,” she said.
Mere urged citizens to become “handwashing heroes” by practicing proper handwashing regularly, encouraging others, and ensuring soap and water are always available at handwashing stations—particularly in schools, health centres, and public spaces.
She reaffirmed WaterAid’s commitment to working with government and partners to expand hygiene promotion, strengthen systems, and ensure universal handwashing—not just on Global Handwashing Day, but every day.
“Together, we can all be handwashing heroes, safeguarding the health and dignity of every Nigerian,” she added.
The day was also marked with a sensitization walk at Ojodu LCDA to raise awareness about proper handwashing practices and their health benefits.
