Enhancing Osun’s Zero Tolerance For Unhealthy Practice

With 200 million people involved in celebrating global hand-washing day in over 100 countries around the world annually… -By Richard Akintade

With 200 million people involved in celebrating global hand-washing day in over 100 countries around the world annually, Osun State was not left out as the government informed that its zero tolerance for unhealthy practice is aimed at promoting sustainable environment and healthy living among its citizenry across the state.
The state governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola stated this at the 2014 global hand washing day organized by office of the Rural Water and Environmental Sanitation Agency (RUWESA) in collaboration with the office of the first lady and Ambassador of Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS), Alhaja Seriat Abidemi Aregbesola in Osogbo the state capital.
The governor who noted the need for healthy practices not only among the school children but also the citizenry said that proper hand washing was germane to good living and while attributing some of transmitted diseases that pervaded the nation to lack proper hand washing, the governor further urged the citizenry of the state to inculcate the habit of washing their hands after the toilet and whenever it is necessary for them.
Aregbesola further called on Nigerians to desist from unwholesome practice that could expose them to diseases and untimely death.
The governor however reiterated his total commitment to the good healthy living among the people he govern in the state saying his administration would not relent in providing enabling environment as well. Speaking at the occasion, wife of the governor, Ambassador Serifat Aregbesola maintained that hand washing was not a day job hence the need for all stakeholders in the health sectors to intensify campaign on the importance of hand washing to save the state from preventable illness.
Alhaja Aregbesola who pointed out that the enlightenment campaign of the present administration in the area of sustainable environment has yielded positive result called on the citizenry to support the task of making the state a healthy place to live for all and sundry. The CLTS Ambassador said proper hand washing remained the major vehicle to promote healthy living and improve socio-economic status of the people. Alhaja Aregbesola who maintained that the incumbent administration in the state is working assiduously in ensuring people are living under healthy atmosphere in the admonished people on the practice of cleaning of their environments and also cultivates the habit of hand washing as at when due, adding that, there are benefits attached to it.
Earlier in his welcome remark, the Special Adviser to the state governor in the Ministry of Water Resources, Community Affairs and Rural Development, Mr. Kunle Ige hinted that the programme was aimed at sensitizing public on importance of hygiene and restoration of healthy living in the state.
Ige who said the Ministry would not rest on its oars in the task of attaining the six point integral action plan of the present administration in the area of healthy, environment and sanitation, urged the people of the state to support government in its bid to transform the entire state.
The Special Adviser said further that people should comply and adopt the policy of washing their hands as it is good for all and sundry as prevention is better than cure. Ige added that, “now that the world Health Organization WHO, has certified the nation, Ebola free, we should not say because of the certification, we should take things for granted. Hand washing is one of the importance ways of preventing diseases in our society and that is why the government in the state did not take issue that has to do with making people to live in a conducive environment with levity”. Ige however, urged Nigerians to see hand washing as natural obligation which is totally for their benefit.
Meanwhile, series of activities have been embarked upon as part of activities to mark the annual event which includes sensitization among the workers in the state Ministry, Schools, all the local governments in the state, market as well as dissemination of news by both the electronic and print media on the importance of hand washing. The ceremony witnessed hand washing demonstration by both the governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, his wife, Alhaja Sherifat Abidemi Aregbesola, and other members of the state executive council, among others present.
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