By:Babagana Bukar Wakil, Maiduguri
Global Handwashing Day, founded by the Global Handwashing Partnership, is celebrated annually on October 15th to promote the importance of washing hands with soap at critical times.
Since its inception in 2008, when over 120 million children across 70 countries participated, the initiative has grown, becoming a global movement supported by governments, NGOs, civil society, and private organizations.
This year’s theme, “Our Future is at Hand – Let’s Move Forward Together,” takes on greater significance for communities displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency in Borno State, Nigeria.
Handwashing, a simple yet powerful tool in disease prevention, faces significant challenges in these conflict-affected areas.
Displaced families, often living in overcrowded camps with limited access to water and sanitation facilities, struggle to maintain basic hygiene practices, including regular handwashing with soap.
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum’s administration, through the Borno State Ministry of Health and in partnership with various humanitarian organizations, has been actively addressing these challenges.
The government has spearheaded the construction of handwashing stations in several internally displaced persons (IDP) camps and health facilities across the state.
In collaboration with international partners, hygiene kits containing soap and clean water supplies have been distributed to vulnerable communities.
These efforts aim to reduce the risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera and diarrhea, which are prevalent in overcrowded IDP camps.
Despite the strides made, the challenge remains substantial, with ongoing advocacy for more resources to ensure that all displaced families have access to the facilities they need for proper hand hygiene.
The state government continues to push for more investments in water and sanitation infrastructure, recognizing that clean hands are crucial in the fight against disease.
As the world marks Global Handwashing Day, the plight of Borno’s displaced population underscores the need for continued action and collaboration between government, partners, and local communities.
Together, these efforts are critical to ensuring that every individual in Borno, regardless of their displacement status, has access to the basic tools needed to maintain hygiene and protect their health.
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