Namibia marks global handwashing and toilet days
The health and social services ministry commemorated Global Handwashing Day and World Toilet Day on Tuesday in Otjiwarongo in collaboration with Unicef and other partners.
This year’s Global Handwashing Day theme was ‘Why are clean hands still important?’ while Toilet Day is being commemorated under the topic ‘Toilet: A Place for Peace’.
Global Handwashing Day is an annual global advocacy day dedicated to advocating for handwashing with soap as an easy, effective, and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives.
In a speech read on behalf of health minister Kalumbi Shangula, deputy health minister Esther Muinjangue said the them on handwashing "invites us to reflect on the crucial role of hand hygiene in preventing diseases and saving lives. The theme of World Toilet Day emphasises a safe and private space for all, free from the fear of exposure to unhygienic conditions or harm when nature calls."
Muinjangue said both themes align perfectly with "our primary goal, which is to improve health outcomes through effective sanitation and hygiene practices. They also reflect the aspirations of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal 6, which aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030."
Namibia, she said, has made commendable progress in access to safe water supply.
"Over 93% of the Namibian population now has access to an improved water supply. The challenge now is to achieve greater progress in wastewater management. Although we have made significant strides, open defecation and inadequate wastewater management remain an issue, particularly in rural areas."
Global challenge
Handwashing with soap is a cost-effective public health measure that can help control and reduce infections and act as an essential line of defence against many disease outbreaks. It can reduce the risk of diarrhoea by up to 30%, of acute respiratory infections by up to 23%, and of seasonal coronavirus infections by 36%. Rigorous hygiene, including handwashing, is also key to reducing the spread of cholera, Covid-19, dysentery, ebola, hepatitis E, SARS and many more.
According to WaterAid, the importance and benefits of good hand hygiene are clear, but there is still a long way from everyone, everywhere having access to this fundamental health benefit.
Globally, an estimated 25% of households do not have somewhere for people to wash their hands with soap and water. In 2022, 42.9% of healthcare facilities didn’t have basic handwashing facilities with soap and water at points of care, and around 33% of schools in developing countries don’t have handwashing facilities.
This year’s Global Handwashing Day theme was ‘Why are clean hands still important?’ while Toilet Day is being commemorated under the topic ‘Toilet: A Place for Peace’.
Global Handwashing Day is an annual global advocacy day dedicated to advocating for handwashing with soap as an easy, effective, and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives.
In a speech read on behalf of health minister Kalumbi Shangula, deputy health minister Esther Muinjangue said the them on handwashing "invites us to reflect on the crucial role of hand hygiene in preventing diseases and saving lives. The theme of World Toilet Day emphasises a safe and private space for all, free from the fear of exposure to unhygienic conditions or harm when nature calls."
Muinjangue said both themes align perfectly with "our primary goal, which is to improve health outcomes through effective sanitation and hygiene practices. They also reflect the aspirations of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal 6, which aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030."
Namibia, she said, has made commendable progress in access to safe water supply.
"Over 93% of the Namibian population now has access to an improved water supply. The challenge now is to achieve greater progress in wastewater management. Although we have made significant strides, open defecation and inadequate wastewater management remain an issue, particularly in rural areas."
Global challenge
Handwashing with soap is a cost-effective public health measure that can help control and reduce infections and act as an essential line of defence against many disease outbreaks. It can reduce the risk of diarrhoea by up to 30%, of acute respiratory infections by up to 23%, and of seasonal coronavirus infections by 36%. Rigorous hygiene, including handwashing, is also key to reducing the spread of cholera, Covid-19, dysentery, ebola, hepatitis E, SARS and many more.
According to WaterAid, the importance and benefits of good hand hygiene are clear, but there is still a long way from everyone, everywhere having access to this fundamental health benefit.
Globally, an estimated 25% of households do not have somewhere for people to wash their hands with soap and water. In 2022, 42.9% of healthcare facilities didn’t have basic handwashing facilities with soap and water at points of care, and around 33% of schools in developing countries don’t have handwashing facilities.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article