Echos from Global Handwashing Day in Enugu State

Her Excellency Mrs Clara Chime teaches primary school children how to wash their hands with soap and water.

Credit: WaterAid

18 November 2009

This year's Global Handwashing day was celebrated in Enugu State in a grand style; the venue for the celebration was Community Central Primary School Obe Agbo in Nkanu West Local Government.

The 2009 Global Handwashing Day, celebrated for the second time in the State, is a global event used to create awareness about the need for effective hand washing. This year's Global Handwashing Day was themed around children and school, to foster and support a local and global culture of hand washing with soap.

The celebration was attended by school children from primary schools across the state, womens organisations, traditional rulers and government officials, with her Excellency the wife Enugu State Governor, Mrs Clara Chime as the special guest of honour.

In his welcome address the local Government Chairman, Honourable Nnemeka Nnamani, expressed deep appreciation to her Excellency, WaterAid, UNICEF, EN-RUWASSA and other stakeholders for choosing to come to Nkanu West for this year's celebration. According to Hon Nnamani his council would continue to promote grass roots hand washing education in all schools in the region for the health of both children and adults. The chairman appealed to the guest of honour Mrs Chime to use her good offices to sustain the global campaign by ensuring that all class rooms in primary schools in the state make provision for hand washing facilities in their classrooms.

In his own speech the Managing director, Enugu State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (EN-RUWASSA) Mr Mike Oguamah, noted that the driving mission for Global Handwashing Day was hand washing in schools which according to him, is targeted at the children who are the main agents of change.

Addressing primary school children, the Honourable Commissioner for the Ministry of Water Resources, Engr. Bethel Onyenyiri, said that Enugu State is committed to the goal of seeing that every community in the state has access to safe water and good sanitation. He informed the audience that his ministry would continue to work with the LGA, relevant agencies and development partners to ensure that government agenda on water is fully realised.
 
In his good will message to Waterid's Enugu State Programme Manager Mr Clement Chigbo, Mr Onyenyiri stated that WaterAid seemed fully committed to the global hand washing campaign, adding that effective hand washing goes a long way in curbing diseases which affect the child. Mr Chigbo called on all stakeholders, parents, school teachers, civil society organisation and the media to join hands in creating awareness about hand washing at critical times. He also called on governments at all levels to always take issues relating to water and sanitation seriously.

The day was round off with different music from the pupils and women from the community.