It is recommended that health stakeholders in local councils collaborate with community leaders to promote awareness of the importance of hand washing through various activities. In Abuja on May 3, 2024, the Federal Ministry of Health emphasized the importance of consistent hand washing as a way to prevent certain Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). During a meeting with health stakeholders from all six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), guidance was provided by Dr. Chukwuma Anyaike, who is the Director of the Public Health Department within the ministry.
A report has disclosed that a meeting was held to provide feedback and discuss the results of a survey on the impact of Schistosomiasis and Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis (STH) in the local council. During the debriefing meeting, the evaluation of the effects of the 2014 baseline survey in the six Area Councils of the FCT was discussed. It was revealed that certain Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) were found to be prevalent in the FCT area council.
Local councils should collaborate with community leaders.
Dr. Adebayo Peters, as the director of NTDs in the Department of Public Health at the Ministry, mentioned that implementing consistent hand washing practices among residents in the area councils could potentially eradicate most of these NTDs, making them a thing of the past. He urged health stakeholders in the local councils to collaborate with community leaders in promoting the importance of hand washing through seamless awareness campaigns. Additionally, Anyalke emphasized the importance of conducting a debriefing to evaluate the effectiveness of the public health department in FCT.
He stated that the outcome of this assessment would dictate the decision to either proceed with or discontinue the treatment. Following completion of five rounds of treatment in all area councils as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), it is imperative that they evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment. Their gratitude goes out to the donors who consistently support them in the FCT as they work towards eradicating Schistosomiasis by 2030, in alignment with WHO guidelines. This assessment will help them track their progress and determine if they are moving forward, he explained.
Collaboration among all stakeholders in order to eradicate NTDs.
In recognition of their hard work towards eradicating NTDs in the city, Dr. Doris John, the Director of the FCT Public Health Department, expressed gratitude to the Area Councils’ representatives during a recent meeting. In addition to praising the Federal Ministry of Health for its ongoing assistance to the FCT Public Health Department and Rural and Water Sanitation Agency (RUWASA), she emphasized the importance of collaboration among all stakeholders in order to eradicate NTDs in both the FCT and the country.
Furthermore, Dr. Doris John encouraged unity and teamwork to achieve this common goal. The practice of hand washing, or hand hygiene, involves using soap or hand wash and water to cleanse the hands and eliminate viruses, bacteria, microorganisms, dirt, grease, and other undesirable substances that may be present. It is important to dry the hands thoroughly after washing to prevent recontamination, as wet hands are more susceptible to picking up harmful germs again. Maintaining clean hands is crucial for preventing the transmission of germs in various settings.
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However, in the absence of soap and water, hand sanitizer with a minimum alcohol concentration of 60% can be a suitable alternative, as long as hands are not visibly soiled. WHO advises washing hands for a minimum of 20 seconds before and after specific tasks to maintain good hygiene. The importance of washing hands with soap is emphasized during five key moments throughout the day to minimize the spread of diseases through fecal-oral transmission. These moments include after using the restroom, after changing a child’s diaper, before feeding a child, before consuming food, and before and after handling raw meat, fish, or poultry.