From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has urged Nigerians to champion improved hand hygiene, emphasising its critical role in controlling infectious diseases. The call came during an event marking World Hand Hygiene Day 2025 at Maitama District Hospital, Abuja.
Dr Tochi Okwor, NCDC’s Head of Disease Prevention and Control, told participants that hand-washing is the primary preventive measure for many infectious disease outbreaks, some of which are deadlier than anticipated. She noted that hand hygiene has saved countless lives from communicable diseases and remains a cornerstone of health security.
Decades of research have proved that it is the single most effective intervention against healthcare-associated infections and the spread of multidrug-resistant organisms, Okwor indicated. She noted that while Nigeria’s Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) initiatives are effective, state governments must support them by allocating budget lines for IPC.
She also recommended providing adequate Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities in public spaces and homes to promote hand-washing and general hygiene.
Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, Mandate Secretary of Health Services and Environment in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), expressed concern that progress in hand hygiene during the Ebola and COVID-19 outbreaks has waned due to complacency. Represented by Dr Osayande Osagie, Director of Clinical Diagnostics Services, she urged stakeholders to intensify efforts to promote hand hygiene among Nigerians.
Fasawe advocated structured training programmes, such as a diploma in infection prevention, to enhance care standards and strengthen Nigeria’s IPC system.
Earlier, Dr Rita Idemudia, Medical Director of Maitama District Hospital, stated that over 60 per cent of infectious diseases could be prevented through proper hand hygiene. She lamented that Nigeria’s commitment to rigorous hand-washing often fades after health crises, recalling lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic.