Access to water-hygiene a right not a privilege – Obiakor

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

YouthWASH Africa has ,said access to water and hygiene is a right issue not a privilege or charity as largely perceived especially among the political class that sees it as a campaign tool.
The organisation said there is urgent need to strengthen local government institutions at all levels, as well as harmonize the activities of the different coordinating bodies for maximum productivity.
Global Handwashing Day (GHD) which is celebrated on October 15 every year since 2008 when it was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly. It a day set aside to promote a global culture of handwashing with soap and raise awareness on the benefits of the practice.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Coordinator –YouthWASH Africa ,Nature Obiakor said the 2017 ‘Handwashing Day: with the theme “Our Hands, Our Future”is conceptualized to emphasized on how handwashing protects our health, and offer us the opportunity to build a sustainable future.
“Good handwashing practice also plays a pivotal role in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by contributing to improve well-being and reduce poverty”.
Obiakor stated that handwashing with soap before eating and after using the toilet has severally proven to be the best preventive approach to healthy living. It is considered as the most cost effective way to mitigate diseases such as cholera, pneumonia, diarrhea, typhoid fever and can save more lives than any single vaccine or medical intervention. “