NAN
The United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with Zamfara State Primary Health Care Board on Monday sensitised women in Gusau to the importance of handwashing, to mark the 2018 Global Handwashing Day.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event, which took place at Mayana Ward in Gusau with the theme, “Clean Hands, Recipe for Good Health”.
In his remark, the Executive Secretary of the State Primary Health Care Board, Alhaji Yusuf Mafara, said the event was to increase the awareness of the public particularly the women on how to improve handwashing habit.
Mafara, who was represented by Engagement and Mobilisation Officer of the Board, Malam Murtala Aliyu, noted that majority of the disease outbreak in the society were caused by negligence in handwashing habit.
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“You know, we are marking the World Handwashing Day, that is why we organise this sensitisation particularly for women.
“The reason we are laying emphasis on women is because they are the ones who take care of the homes,” he said.
He thanked UNICEF for supporting various health programmes in the state, Gusau Emirate Council and other stakeholders supporting health care delivery in the state.
Earlier, the Gusau Local Government Health Authority Coordinator, Hajiya Aminatu Yusuf, described the event as a good development.
“This came at the right time especially when the council is making efforts to support various health programmes to improve primary health care delivery especially at rural communities,” he said.
She urged the participants to utilise all the lectures and demonstrations, put them to practice to improve their hygiene.
Abdulnasir Mainasara, Health Educator, Gusau Local Government Area, attributed the increase of disease outbreaks in the society to improper handwashing.
Mainasara said that handwashing was a major important area of priority in improving public health.
“I am giving this as a challenge to members of the public especially the women, let us keep constant handwashing habits, we will see improvement in our health”.
The Ward Head of Mayana Area of Gusau, Alhaji Muhammad Makya, thanked the state PHCB and UNICEF for choosing the area for the sensitisation.
He assured them of continued support for any programme to improve the health status of the people.
NAN also reports that UNICEF Volunteer Ward Supervisors from Gusau Local Government Area made various presentations on handwashing at the event.