UNICEF, EU and Anambra citizens celebrate RUWASA with pomp

The Awka auditorium of Dora Akuyili Women’s Development Centre came alive in the Anambra state capital on 18th October as over 3,000 children from primary schools across the state took the centre stage to commemorate the 2017 Global Hand Washing Day celebration.

The pupils who were drawn from sixty 60 schools across the Local Government Areas of the state started off with a keenly contested quiz competition, colourful dances and drawing competition in the week long programme that climaxed on the 24th.

The competing students were drawn from Idemili South, Anambra East, Aguata and Nnewi South Council Areas which cut across the three Senatorial zones from which the judges selected the all round best team.

The entire show was anchored by a radio phone-in programme to achieve the set objectives for the activity.

Cross section of participants

The annual event was jointly organised by the UNICEF, EU and the State Government under the Rural Water Sanitation Programme (RUWASA) with team: “Our Hand, Our Future” was aimed at emphasising the need for proper hand washing in rural areas for effective healthy living.

The UNICEF state consultant, Mr. Clement Chigbo in his address at the occasion, stated that the state government has been contributory to the success of the exercise over the years.

Chigbo assured citizens of the state that UNICEF will continue to do its best to ensure quality education and good hygiene facilities.

“We thank the Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano for his moral and material support both for the actualisation of this programme.

“This year’s team is “Our Hands and Our Future” and Chigbo urged school children to exercise hand washing as a way of life at home and also ensure that their parents and older ones wash their hands well at all times.

“You should always remind your parents about proper hand washing and also tell your friends that it is healthy and important to wash their hands always.

I hereby congratulate the children for taking part in this exercise and also thank the participatory schools and their teachers for their role in this programme,” he said.

Speaking also at the occasion, Director of Planning, Rev. Dr. Amanze, who represented the State Commissioner for Public Utilities and Domestic Water Development, said that 2017 is yet another year of improvement on the campaign for effective hand washing.

“Anambra State Government is desirous of ensuring healthy living through its programmes and the water resources sector is part of government’s blueprint for good governance.”

Amanze congratulated all participants and commented that the use of dance, quiz and drawing competition is to further emphasise the need for hand washing and is an added advantage for the campaign.

At the drawing competition

“These school children have become ambassadors of this programme and as they keep this up, there is a great future for us all,” he concluded.

Laying credence to the success of this programme, the State Hygiene Education officer, Dr Mrs. Rose Amasiana observed that a total of sixty school children from LGAs – 20 each from the three Senatorial zones of Anambra, gathered to make the occasion memorable.

Amasiana recalled that our people had been washing their hands in the past, but not properly and that gave rise to this event.

“Thus far, a total of 50,000 Anambra citizens have has been sensitised through bulk SMS on the need for hand washing, though we concentrated more on the pupils because they are the agent of change.

“Also they did road shows at Nnewi North LGA under the auspices of the Federal Road Safety Corps who led the children across the town and I must tell you that it has been a week programme of inspiration.”

Amasiani explained further that every October 15th each year has been mapped out as the date for the Global Hand Washing exercise and Campaign Programme.

A cross section of school teachers who spoke to The Daily Times expressed happiness that the programme has gone a long way in educating and creating awareness on the need for healthy living through hand washing.

Winners of the drawing competition

Mrs. Nwachukwu Ifunanya of All Saints Primary School, Onitsha North LGA had this to say: “I am highly impressed with what I saw today.

Though my school did not take part in this event, I have learnt a lot and I am going to introduce this to my school at every morning assembly.

“I will ensure that our school participates in this programme come next year and I commend UNICEF and the state government for sponsorship of this programme.”

Mrs Ezenwanne Uche of Nwannebo Primary School, Ula-Ekwulobia was happy that “we have learnt a lot from the programme and I am happy that our pupils participated.

“When you look at the interest our school children have developed in this concept of effective hand washing, you will observe that the awareness has effectively been created among them.”

At the end of the exciting event, Premier Primary School, Aguleri, emerged first place winners, while Unity Primary school, Umuleri clinched the second position; Isuofia Secondary School emergency as the second runner up.

Highlight of the occasion was the presentation of gifts to the all participating schools while the school children presented both dance and drama to entertain those present.

Stakeholders at the occasion commended the effort and suggested that the number of participating schools be increased from 60 to 80 in next year’s exercise to thoroughly saturate the state with the hand washing culture.