By Chikaodili Obinwa
The Anambra State Urban Water Asset Holdings Corporation (ASUWAHC) is set to launch a statewide handwashing, sanitation and Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) campaign to promote healthy hygiene practices and reduce the spread of communicable diseases in public schools, markets and other government-owned institutions across the state.
The decision was reached during a technical meeting held on June 29 at the corporation’s conference office in Awka.
Speaking at the meeting, the Officer-in-Charge of ASUWAHC, Mrs. Emmanuella Okafor, said the campaign, themed “Wash Your Hands, Protect Your Health,” is designed to educate pupils, teachers, traders and members of the public on the importance of regular handwashing with soap and clean water, while also promoting proper sanitation and menstrual hygiene practices.
Mrs. Okafor described proper handwashing as one of the simplest, most affordable and effective ways of preventing diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, diarrhoea and respiratory infections.
She noted that the initiative aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, seeking to ensure the availability and sustainable management of clean water and sanitation for all.
According to her, the campaign will increase awareness of environmental sanitation and menstrual hygiene management, particularly among school children, adolescent girls, women and market communities, while encouraging healthy behaviours that will improve public health across the state.
The awareness campaign will feature health talks, practical demonstrations of proper handwashing techniques, sanitation and menstrual hygiene education, school hygiene programmes, community sensitisation, live public awareness sessions, social media campaigns, as well as the display of campaign banners and distribution of educational flyers to promote behavioural change.
To ensure effective implementation, Mrs. Okafor directed the Head of the Environment and WASH Unit, Mrs. Njideka Ezenta, to prepare a comprehensive lecture on handwashing, sanitation and menstrual hygiene management, alongside a detailed implementation plan for the exercise.
She also disclosed that handwashing stations would be installed at selected schools and markets during the outreach to encourage regular handwashing and reinforce proper hygiene practices among pupils, traders and other members of the public.
Mrs. Okafor expressed confidence that the campaign would strengthen hygiene and sanitation practices, improve menstrual hygiene awareness, reduce the incidence of communicable diseases, promote safe water and sanitation, and contribute significantly to the achievement of SDG 6 by fostering healthier schools, markets and communities across Anambra State.
Chikaodili Obinwa is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
