By Josephine Oguntoyinbo
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As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark the global Hand Washing Day today, people have been advised to constantly wash their hands with soap and water in order to prevent infections and diseases.

A medical practitioner, Dr (Mrs) Salewa Osho gave the advice in a chat with The Hope.

According to her, the importance of washing hands with soap and water cannot be overemphasised, saying it helps in saving lives.

The physician affirmed that hand washing is an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases and ensure food hygiene.

“Hand washing is an important part of keeping food safe, preventing diseases thereby improving the economic life of the people and helping the children to grow strong.

“People should make hand washing part of their meals plan, by washing hands before eating and at every critical time especially before cooking, after using the toilet, before feeding babies and so on.

“Most individuals can afford bar soaps and detergents but majority prefer to use it for laundry, dish washing and bathing rather than hand washing. Though all these are equally important to ensure healthy living, but people must not ignore hand washing, hand washing habits is a necessity so that people will not become regular visitors to the Hospitals”, she stated.

She explained further that when hand washing is practised regularly at key times, it will drastically reduce the risk of diarrhea and pneumonia which can cause serious illness and even death if not treated early and properly.

She posited that hand washing with soap also helps prevent the spread of other infections including influenza, and Ebola.

To this end, she enjoined all stakeholders to intensify effort in promoting hand washing habit through policy, programmes, advocacy, and research so as to make people live a healthy life.

The physician charged parents and guardians including school authorities to train every child early in life to cultivate the habit of regular hand washing.

Global hand washing is celebrated every year on 15 October. The global campaign is dedicated to raising awareness of hand washing with soap as a key factor in disease prevention.

Global hand washing Day 2018 is tagged “Clean hands-a recipe for health”.

Meanwhile, the Ondo state government, through the state Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency will today celebrate this year’s edition at the Mega Primary School in Iro street, Akure.