CONIWAS calls for sustained advocacy on hand washing with soap under clean water
CONIWAS calls for sustained advocacy on hand washing with soap under clean water
The coalition of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS) has called for collective efforts by all stakeholders to continue the advocacy on hand washing with soap for the promotion of healthy living.
The call was contained in a statement issued and signed by its Executive Secretary, Madam Basilia Nanbigne to commemorate the 2022 World Handwashing Day.
According to her, there has been a sharp decline in handwashing practices among the general public as the fear of the pandemic goes down.
“In 2020, the whole world rallied around hand hygiene as one of the effective ways to prevent COVID-19 infections. There was an increase in Hand washing practices globally and in Ghana as well. Individuals, entrepreneurs, and various organisations in the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector and beyond promoted hand hygiene differently. (eg. through enforcement, the practice of handwashing, sensitization, and manufacturing of facilities among others). As the fear of the pandemic declines, however, so has the practice of hand hygiene, unfortunately, declined as well”. Madam Nanbigne reiterated.
The Coalition also use the occasion to call on the government and other partners to remember those who still have no access to water to enable them to practice hand washing.
“There are still many Communities, Health care facilities, and schools that still lack access to potable water. To ensure we achieve and enjoy any gains in the practice of hand washing, we must ensure that no one is left behind in the access to safe water. In so doing, we can gracefully celebrate any gains we make in hand washing practice. Therefore let’s unite so that everyone has access to water for universal hand hygiene.” It said.
CONIWAS is happy that a national strategy for hand hygiene is being developed by the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources (MSWR). Once completed, it will provide the strategic direction for hand hygiene interventions, ensure institutional mechanisms are clear and functioning, deepen sectorial coordination, and strengthen systems. This coupled with access to water will triple our gains in hand washing. A portion of the statement read.
Below is the full statement.
CONIWAS STATEMENT ON GLOBAL HANDWASHING DAY – “LET’S UNITE FOR UNIVERSAL HAND HYGIENE BY ENSURING EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO WATER”
Today, October 15 is Global Handwashing Day, a global advocacy day dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding of the importance of handwashing with soap as an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives.
We celebrate the global day on the Theme ‘United for Universal Hand Hygiene. The Celebration of Global Hand Washing Day today is a call to remind us that hand washing is still one of the safest ways to protect ourselves against many diseases.
Our Hands play a vital role in spreading diseases or contracting diseases. Therefore, ensuring that we clean our hands regularly with clean water and soap or an alcohol-based rub is a highly cost-effective way to protect our health and the health of others.
In 2020, the whole world rallied around hand hygiene as one of the effective ways to prevent COVID-19 infections. There was an increase in Hand washing practices globally and in Ghana as well. Individuals, entrepreneurs, and various organisations in the WASH sector and beyond promoted hand hygiene differently. (eg. through enforcement, the practice of handwashing, sensitization, manufacturing of facilities etc). As the fear of the pandemic declines, however, so has the practice of hand hygiene unfortunately declined as well.
We nevertheless have to find ways to accelerate the practice. As the theme for this year suggests, we need to unite for universal hand hygiene. COVID-19 is not completely gone, and so hand hygiene is still highly recommended as one of the safest ways to protect ourselves. As we celebrate the day, CONIWAS uses the opportunity to call for collective efforts by all stakeholders to continue the advocacy on hand washing with soap for the promotion of our health and well-being. We also wish to use the platform to call on the government and other partners to remember those who still have no access to water to enable them to practice hand washing. There are still many Communities, Health care facilities, and schools that still lack access to potable water. To ensure we achieve and enjoy any gains in the practice of hand washing, we must ensure that no one is left behind in the access to safe water. In so doing, we can gracefully celebrate any gains we make in hand washing practice. Therefore let’s unite so that everyone has access to water for universal hand hygiene.
CONIWAS is happy that a national strategy for hand hygiene is being developed by the MSWR. Once completed, it will provide the strategic direction for hand hygiene interventions, ensure institutional mechanisms are clear and functioning, deepen sectoral coordination, and strengthen systems. This coupled with access to water will triple our gains in hand washing.
