WaterAid sees economic benefits in hand-washing, good food hygiene

Hand-washing with soap and good food hygiene together brings health and economic benefits, WaterAid, an international not-for-profit organisation that works in 34 countries to change the lives of the poorest and most marginalised people, said.

The organization which is working to make clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene normal for everyone, everywhere within a generation, explains that hand-washing with soap is essential for health workers, to improve the quality of care and reduce risks of cross-infection.

Hand washing habit, it adds, also makes children healthier, allowing them to go to school and learn, and helps adults remain healthy to go to work and earn a living to care for their families.

ChiChi Aniagolu-Okoye, WaterAid Nigeria country director, noted in a statement in Lagos on Monday that as the world marked Global Hand-washing Day (Monday, October 15), that there was need for improved investment in improving hand-washing practice and access.

“We advocate improved investment in basic hand-washing access and also 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”, the country director said.

In most societies, especially in the rural areas, only 1 in 5 people wash their hands after going to the toilet, despite an established fact that washing hands with soap and water reduces cases of diarrhoea by almost 50 percent and, on average, around the world, only 19 percent of people wash hands with soap after defecation.

The theme of this year’s Global Hand-washing Day commemoration, ‘Clean hands: A recipe for health’, focuses on the link between hand-washing, food and nutrition, creating awareness on the need for hand-washing with soap at critical times such as after using the toilet, before cooking, eating, or feeding others.

“The simple act of washing hands with soap can save lives, helping to keep food safe, prevent diseases and help children to be able to grow strong and healthy. It contributes to child survival, good nutrition, the ability to successfully attend school, and the economic benefits of greater productivity. Yet globally only one in five people wash their hands after going to the toilet, significantly increasing the risk of contamination and diarrhoeal sickness”, Aniagolu-Okoye said

Children with diarrhoea not only eat less but are less able to absorb nutrients from food and research has shown that wasting and severe acute malnutrition can be linked to poor hygiene practices. Food borne illnesses are a major cause of death in developing countries like Nigeria, leading to illnesses which are harmful, especially for children, pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems.

Hand-washing with soap is estimated to reduce diarrhoeal diseases by between 27 percent and 48 percent. Combined with the use of clean drinking water, it could reduce the loss of nutrients and stunting in children under five by up to 15 percent.

It is an important hygienic practice that keeps food safe for consumption and protects from food related diseases. Critical food-related times for hand-washing with soap include before cooking or preparing food, before eating, and before feeding someone, including before breastfeeding. It is important caregivers in schools, hospitals or at home wash their hands at all critical times, modelling and enforcing good hand-washing behaviour for children.