Global Handwashing Day: Borno urges pupils to embrace hygiene
By Ahmed Kaigama
The Borno Government has urged pupils and students to embrace proper handwashing and personal hygiene to prevent infections and promote healthy living.
Hassan Mohammed Malgwi, State Coordinator, Neglected Tropical Diseases, Borno Ministry of Health and Human Services, made the call during the commemoration of the 2026 Global Handwashing Day in Magumeri Local Government Area.
Malgwi said the awareness campaign, supported by Helen Keller International, was organised to educate schoolchildren and community members on the importance of handwashing in preventing diseases.
The event, held at Government Day Senior Secondary School, Magumeri, involved pupils and students from junior and senior secondary sections, Central Primary School and an Islamiyya school.
He said handwashing with soap and clean water remained one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent the spread of infections, including diarrhoeal diseases and respiratory illnesses.
According to him, the theme of the 2026 celebration, “Action Saves Lives – Clean Your Hands,” emphasises the need to make handwashing a daily habit in schools, homes and communities.
He urged pupils and students to wash their hands after using the toilet, before eating, before handling food and after contact with waste.
Malgwi also stressed the importance of providing clean water, sanitation facilities and functional handwashing stations in schools to encourage children to practise proper hygiene.
He noted that handwashing should complement other sanitation measures in preventing neglected tropical diseases, particularly trachoma, which requires facial cleanliness and hygienic surroundings as part of prevention efforts.
The coordinator called on teachers, parents and caregivers to teach children proper handwashing techniques and ensure that they maintained good hygiene practices both at school and at home.
He also urged traditional and religious leaders, health workers and development partners to intensify hygiene awareness and support access to water and sanitation facilities, especially in underserved communities.
Mathias M. Sunama, State Coordinator of Helen Keller International, reaffirmed the importance of sustained awareness and collective action in promoting handwashing.
Sunama called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, development partners, schools, health workers and community leaders to improve access to water, sanitation and hygiene services.
Hajiya Yagana Mohammed, Director of Primary Healthcare in Magumeri, and Umar Lawan Ardorom, Education Secretary in the local government area, also participated in the commemoration.
The organisers urged school authorities to make handwashing facilities available and encourage pupils to practise regular handwashing to protect themselves and others from preventable diseases.
