To commemorate the 2025 Global Handwashing Day, the Journalists for Public Health and Development Initiative (J4PD) organized a practical handwashing session with pupils of Meenas Scholars Academy in Bauchi.
This year’s theme, “Be a Handwashing Hero,” underscores the importance of washing hands with soap as a simple yet powerful way to prevent diseases and save lives.
During the visit, J4PD members interacted with the pupils, educating them on when and why to wash their hands. The Executive Director of J4PD, Elizabeth Kah, urged both pupils and teachers to become handwashing heroes by encouraging others to make the practice a daily habit — after using the toilet, before and after meals, after visiting hospitals, and after playing.
The Program Manager, Ishola Michael, demonstrated proper handwashing techniques, explaining key steps such as wetting the hands, applying soap or ash to form lather, scrubbing between the fingers and palms, and rinsing thoroughly with clean water. The pupils enthusiastically participated in the session.
In her remarks, the Headmistress of Meenas Scholars Academy, Luwisa Ahmed, appreciated the initiative and pledged that teachers would integrate handwashing messages into classroom lessons to sustain the practice among pupils.
Global Handwashing Day, marked annually on October 15, serves as a reminder that clean hands save lives — and that instilling hygiene habits early can help build healthier communities.
