School Campaigns For Proper Way To Wash Hands

Universal White Hall Schools, Fabga, Iju Road, Ifako Ijaye Local Government Area, southwest Nigeria, on Monday joined the rest of the world to raise awareness and educate members of the public that washing their hands properly with soap is the key to disease prevention.

The school proprietor, Barrister Ogedengbe Alexander, told P.M.NEWS that the school joined the Lagos State government and the rest of the world to celebrate Global Handwashing Day, which holds annually on 15 October to promote the importance of washing hands properly with soap to prevent infection.
The campaign which was held at Fagba Junction, Ifako Ijaye from 8a.m. involved the students of the school and some of their teachers enlightening the residents of the areas the right way to wash their hands with illustrations.

While some of the students were carrying placards with graphic illustrations on how to wash hands properly to prevent germs, some came with soaps, bowls and water as well as towels, demonstrating the simple and best steps of washing hands.

According to Barrister Alexander, many diseases are spread by not washing hands with soap and clean water and not many people know how to wash their hands properly.

Alexander, therefore, said the school was on the street to encourage members of the public to always wash their hands to limit spread of bacteria and other microbes in the society.

“As a school, we are here to teach our community how to wash hands. There are germs everywhere and they are being transmitted from hands to food. What we are doing today is to educate the public the proper way of washing their hands to prevent infections,” he said.

Mrs Olorunsanu Boyewa, the school Head of Department, Arts, who is also the school counsellor, reiterated that the public need to be well informed that they accumulate germs on their hands during their everyday activities and to keep their hands germ-free they need to wash them frequently and in the right way .

Illustrating the proper way of washing handing hands, one the participating students, Oyedepo Adesanya, told the residents that they must wash hands with soap and remember to scrub all surfaces, including the backs of their hands, wrists, between their fingers and under their fingernails.
She also advised that they must endeavour to rinse their hands well and dry them with clean towel.

Some of the residents who took part in the exercise praised the school for raising awareness about proper handwashing, admitting that a lot of people do not really know what it takes to keep their hands germ-free, especially before preparing their meal and after going to toilet.

Miss Bukola Ogundaisi, a National Youth Service Corps member serving in Ifako ijaye LCDA commended the efforts of the school, saying that she is now well informed about how people accumulate germs on their hands through touching objects and even while interacting with one another.

Similarly, Mr Adoye Oluyemi, The Head of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, Zone 29, who participated in the exercise, said “washing our hands is one of the important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others and it must be done properly.