About 60,000 children below the age of five years still die every year in Nigeria, owing to diarrhea infections, WaterAid-Nigeria has revealed.
Miss Oluseyi Abdulmalik, Communications and Media Manager of WaterAid Nigeria, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Bauchi, to mark the Global Handwashing Day, celebrated annually on Oct. 15.
She said, “We already know progress is not fast enough; about 60,000 children under 5 years in Nigeria still die each year because of diarrhea.
“That is linked to dirty water, poor toilets and poor hygiene, pointing out that everyone has a right to water and our leaders must act to leave no one behind.”
She however prescribed washing of hands with soap and water which she said reduces cases of diarrhea by almost 50 percent.
“Handwashing with soap and good food hygiene brings health and economic benefits.
“Handwashing with soap is essential for health workers, improving quality of care and reducing risk of cross-infection. It also makes children healthier, she said.
She continued: “We are advocating alongside our partners, Action Against Hunger, to demand that governments should develop cross-ministerial coordination mechanisms between the WASH and nutrition sector championed at the highest level to support sharing of information and joint planning and implementation of policies.
She urged policy makers to prioritize nutrition-sensitive WASH interventions and include specific objectives to improve WASH within nutrition plans and policies.
“For citizens to join in making this happen by using the power they wield in their hands to vote in the coming elections for leaders, who pledge commitment to improving WASH access, ” she said.
Abdulmalik, also enjoined all citizens to participate in the WASH project, to achieve a healthier environment and country.