By Dayyabu Tanimu Azare, Bauchi
Washing the hands with soap and clean water is one of the simplest and most effective disease prevention methods available. It is also the first line of defense against highly contagious diseases, including the novel corona virus (COVID-19).
However, despite established evidence on the effectiveness of this good hygiene practice as the first line of defense in the prevention of infectious diseases, about 60 million Nigerians lack access to clean water supply services and 150 million people lack basic hand washing facilities such as soap and water.
Hence, the Bauchi State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA) invited the deaf cluster in Bauchi State to participate in a one day symposium on how to keep our environment clean and prevent the spread of Covid-19 among the Deaf in Bauchi State.
The hygiene monitoring agency states that its aims and objectives covers sanitation, hygiene and menstrual health – especially for the vulnerable and least able to respond.
We are also mandated to “ensure poorly served households and healthcare facilities have enough water for basic needs, including hand washing, general cleanliness as well as reducing the risk of COVID 19 transmission at communal water facilities”
The agency thereafter, distributed hand washing pumps to the Deaf Community to control the spread of COVID-19 in the community.
Earlier, the chairman of Bauchi State Association of the Deaf, Mallam Garba Abubakar (Fifa), had urged the agency to assist the association in reducing spread of the pandemic by providing protective materials for preventive measures in their office.
He said with the equipment provided, visitors will be advised to wash their hands before entering the office premises. According to Garba, such will constitute a strong measure against the spread of Covid-19 among the Deaf.