Ghanaians have been asked to make handwashing a priority in every activity to safeguard public health and well-being.

According to Madam Lydia Seyram Alhassan, Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Ghanaians should not limit the practice of hand washing to days set aside to commemorate Global Handwashing Day but continue to advocate it every day of the year.

“Handwashing must be seen not just as a response to health crises, but as an everyday practice that protects our health, promotes dignity, and supports productivity. We must reinvigorate efforts to make handwashing with soap a regular and sustained behaviour.”

Madam Alhassan said this when the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) commemorated this year’s Global Handwashing Day at La-Bawaleshie Presbyterian Basic School in Accra.

Global Handwashing Day is a global advocacy day dedicated to increased awareness and understanding of the importance of handwashing with soap as an effective and affordable way of preventing diseases and saving lives.

This year’s celebration which was under the theme: “Why Are Clean Hands Still Important,” sought to reflect on the collective responsibility to safeguard public health, prevent infections, and promote well-being.

It also aimed at calling for more actions by stakeholders to receive and intensify awareness on the importance of hand hygiene as an essential part of health as Ghana records cases of Cholera within the Greater Accra Region recently.

Madam Alhassan said the practice of handwashing with soap had proven to significantly reduce the risk of illnesses such as diarrhoea by 30 percent, and acute respiratory infections by up to 20 percent.

“These are not just numbers, they represent lives saved, suffering reduced and alleviated healthcare burdens.”

The minister noted that the practice of handwashing extended beyond disease prevention, adding proper handwashing hygiene also has a direct impact on education and nutrition.

According to her, when children maintain good hygiene practices, they remain healthy, they attend school regularly and they focus on their learning.

Citing a World Health Organisation Report, Madam Alhassan said, “Handwashing with soap can reduce school absenteeism caused by diarrhoea and influenza by up to 50 percent.

Poor hygiene negatively affects children long before they reach school age. It contributes to undernutrition, especially among children under five, by hindering their bodies’ ability to absorb nutrients. This can result in stunted growth, delayed physical and mental development and difficulties in learning and interacting with others.”

Madam Alhassan recalled that Ghana made significant progress in raising awareness about hand hygiene adding that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ghana saw an increased presence of handwashing facilities in schools, markets, offices, lorry parks, places of worship and other places.

However, she said in recent times, the practice of handwashing has declined.

“Many handwashing stations have disappeared, and even where they exist, they are often non-functional, lacking soap or water. Worse still, even when the facilities are available and working handwashing is not practiced consistently.”

Madam Alhassan said the theme for the occasion was a timely call for Ghanaians to renew their commitment to lifesaving habits.

According to the Minister, while awareness of handwashing has increased, the challenge of sustaining behaviour remains unchanged.

Quoting from the UNICEF and WHO 2021 report, the minister said: Globally, 2.3 billion people still lack access to basic handwashing facilities with soap and water at home and 670 million have no handwashing facilities at all.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, seven per cent of healthcare do not have hand hygiene services, and globally 462 million children attend schools without access to hygiene.”

She, therefore, advised all food vendors to maintain proper hand hygiene before handling or serving food and prevent the spread of foodborne illness.

Mr Aloysius Adjetey, Chief Executive, CWSA, in a speech read on his behalf, said the agency would continue to engage stakeholders in the WASH Sector to ensure that the practice of handwashing is accepted and becomes a norm in Ghana.

Mr Adjetey noted that a government-led approach would enhance processes that would ensure adequate planning, monitoring, and sustained hand hygiene interventions at all levels.

Mrs Naa Shormey Nortey, Headmistress, La-Bawaleshie Presbyterian Basic School encouraged all parents to embrace handwashing to make life safer.

“Remember that clean hands are not only important but essential.”

Madam Alhassan, who is also the Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency later presented Veronica Buckets and other items to schools and traditional councils within her constituency.