A non-governmental organisation, Centre for Water and Environmental Development (CWED), has established an Environmental Community Outreach (ECO) Club at Sheikh Gumi Model School, Kaduna, as part of activities to commemorate the 2025 Global Handwashing Day.
The celebration, held under the theme “Be a Handwashing Hero,” aimed to raise awareness on the importance of proper hygiene and environmental protection among young learners.
During the event on Wednesday in Kaduna, CWED’s Programme Officer, Mrs Lydia Saleh, said the initiative was designed to inspire pupils to become hygiene champions in their schools and neighbourhoods.
She explained that the theme encourages individuals to take responsibility for their health by adopting simple, consistent handwashing practices to prevent infections.
According to her, the ECO Club will help instill cleanliness and environmental awareness in pupils while promoting a sustainable culture of hygiene.
Saleh highlighted various sources of clean water, including boreholes, taps, and springs, stressing the importance of safe and accessible water for maintaining good hygiene.
She appealed to government authorities to improve the availability of potable water across communities, warning that overdependence on boreholes could harm the environment in the long term.
The CWED officer further emphasised that effective handwashing with soap and clean water remains one of the simplest and most powerful ways to prevent the spread of diseases.
She noted that poor hand hygiene contributes to the transmission of illnesses such as cholera, typhoid, diarrhea, hepatitis A, and respiratory infections like influenza and the common cold.
Saleh also demonstrated the proper handwashing process—wetting hands, applying soap, scrubbing palms and fingers, cleaning under nails, and rinsing thoroughly under running water.
She urged participants to lead by example by becoming “handwashing heroes,” promoting regular hygiene habits to build healthier communities.
Representing the school, Mr Bakare Wandiya thanked CWED for the initiative and applauded the organisation’s dedication to fostering cleanliness, environmental stewardship, and health awareness among students.
He expressed optimism that the newly formed Eco Club would inspire pupils to adopt lifelong hygiene habits and contribute to a cleaner, safer environment for all.