…As FCT Minister task them on human rights protection
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) met with the Commanders of different Security agencies and heads of other organizational component of both the Joint Taskforce and the Command and Control Secretariat to review enforcement strategies.
The meeting was reportedly called because of the need to ramp up enforcement of laws and rules of engagement while dealing with city clean-up and other lawless acts in the city.
Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection, and Enforcement to FCT Minister, Comrade Ikharo Attah, while addressing the participants, said that the operational methods needed to be reviewed and the team made more efficient in addressing the ills that endanger Abuja’s overall development.
He noted that all the different components that make up the joint taskforce and the other squad must synergize to bring the required results in the city
Attah, while conveying the commendation of the Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello to the team over their efforts and commitment to duty, he also reminded them that ministerial directives that human rights be protected during enforcement remains non negotiable.
According to him, the Minister wants security and order maintained in all parts of the territory, but does not want the rights of law-abiding residents trampled upon.
In his remarks, the Commander of security agencies under the Command and Control Unit, CSP Yusuf Bala pledged the support of all the officers under his control to the reviewed operational strategies.
He also urged FCT Minister to make more commitment towards the provisions of operational equipment needed by the Taskforce.
Also, the Commander of the Taskforce, Solomon Adebayo who noted that the enforcement operations in the city have been challenging, also appealed to all relevant authorities to improve on the welfare of officers.
Adebayo added that officers confidence can be boosted when their welfare is upper most in government’s planning agenda.
The Cross River State Governor, Sen. Ben Ayade has described the Transportation Minister, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi as a man with outstanding qualities fit to rule Nigeria.
Ayade spoke when Amaechi paid him a courtesy visit as part of his consultations with delegates of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Cross River State, Friday.
According to him, “I agree with my brother Amaechi, totally. He comes with a lot of experience. He is one man who has shown commitment to Cross River State and Nigeria.
“We started trying to build a Deep Seaport, from the day I spoke to him about the Deep Seaport till today, he has given eight ministerial approvals. There was no day that our files stayed on his table for twenty four hours. So, he has shown commitment to the State and to Nigeria, and I say this with all sincerity. He has also shown very outstanding sense of brotherhood. From the time I moved into APC, he said, “you are our leader, we will work with you and at any point in time we would always work together,” Ayade explained.
Governor Ayade who also recently declared his intention to run for the Presidency on the platform of the ruling party, further revealed that between him and Amaechi, there is no competition.
“I have had extensive discussions with Amaechi, and I can tell you that we are not competitors, we are co-opetitors. I am comfortable with him. He is somebody that speaks his mind, he is not somebody that you cannot understand, he is somebody that you can read, and such people are far more innocent, because if they are hurt, you know that they are hurt, and few minutes after, it’s gone. He is not a tricky politician, and I think that’s a good attribute of leadership. Let me mention clearly here, that for us as a State, outside of Ayade, we are very comfortable if you secure the ticket.
“And so, I wish you well, I commend you to go before the delegates of my State, and I ask you (delegates) to judge him based on balanced fairness, because what God has destined for him, I cannot take it,” he said.
Addressing the Governor earlier, Amaechi said, “I will repeat what I tell people, I am 56 years old, so I am among the young candidates of the party. I’m not the oldest, but I am the most experienced. Of all the aspirants, both in APC and PDP, I am the most experienced. I have been Governor for eight years, Speaker for eight years, Minister for seven years now, I have not seen anybody that comes with that kind of experience for the office of the President that I come with. I was the Chairman of Governors’ Forum and I was Chairman twice when it was very contentious to vote for the office of the Chairman of that forum. The reason why it was contentious was because we stood for the people, we spoke the minds of Nigerians at that contentious time. I come with performance in every office that I have held. I had a meeting with the President two days ago, in which we had very good conversation about the Lagos-Calabar rail, and we agreed that he would launch the Lagos-Calabar rail here in Calabar. The moment we are about to sign the loan, I will tell the President to come and launch the project and will commence from Calabar.”
Amaechi, who earlier visited the Obong of Calabar, HRM Edidem Ekpo Otu V and his Council of Chiefs, assured of his commitment to provide good governance to the masses, pledging also, that he would run a transparent government if elected President.
The Presidential hopeful also met with party delegates in Calabar where he urged the people to vote for him based on his antecedents and track record and not just because he is from the South South, adding that he would deploy his wealth of experience to bear in his service to humanity.
According to him, “I am your son, but let us not vote just because I am your son. Vote for me because I have the capacity to deliver. You have heard Northern candidate, Southern candidate, Western candidate, I am not a candidate of any tribe, I am a candidate for all Nigerians. Those who are Governors and running, let them tell us what they have done in their States, how many days do they sleep in their States, let them tell us whether they are owing salaries or not. For me, judge me by my capacity. Go back to Rivers State and find out, when I was Governor, the primary schools, the secondary schools, power, water, new city, roads, and the fact that we provided security. I am the only aspirant that fought insecurity when I was Governor. So, vote for me because I have the capacity to turn the country around for good”.
In his response, Chairman of the party, Alphonsus Eba said, “Your Excellency, there is nothing I will say about you today that will not be laced with praises, with encomiums and cornucopias. You have done so much for this party, to Cross Riverians, even during the era of our former Governor, you were around, we saw the support you gave to Cross River State. When our Governor (Ayade) came on board, you have given every support. You granted eight ministerial approvals for the take-off of Bakassi Deep Seaport and a super highway. The Governor spoke about that in the meeting we just attended.
“Today, I stand to say that in Cross River State, you are one man that we could boldly stand up and say, you are politically merchantable. You will not be a difficult product for us to sell. We have only one river to cross and that river is the fact that our leader is in this race, but he has just allayed my fears, when he said to you, that if it is not him, let it be you,” Eba said.
…As Foundation Seek Inclusion Of PWA To FG Skin Cancer Intervention Programme
The Founder of Albino Foundation and President , Albinism Association of Nigeria, Mr Jake Epelle has lamented that three People With Albinism (PWP) die every month in Nigeria of skin cancer.
While appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari to review the previous administration’s Skin Cancer Intervention programme for People With Albinism (PWP) with the aim of setting up the requisite policy instruments that will make it functional and sustainable once more.
This, according to him will help assuage the plight of People With Albinism (PWP) in Nigeria.
He added that, the scourge of skin cancer is ravaging the community of PWA is not only life threatening but functionally decimating the lives of Nigerians who have albinism as statistics shows that about three PWA die from it every month.
He made this known at a press conference to commemorate the National Albinism Awareness Day with the theme: SOS from skin cancer patients with Albinism on Thursday in Abuja.
He added that :” the president should use his good office to approve the inclusion of skins cancer care to the scope of the current Cancer Health Fund which only takes care of Breast, Cervical and Prostate cancer under your leadership.
“Galvanized local and international support for possible collaboration and funding support for skin cancer for PWA. Special attention may be placed on the United Nations Aid (UNAID) who 2e have spoken to, and are ready to extend arm of fellowship in this regard.
” In addition to the above, may I have the mandate to kindly and other person’s 2ho are suffering from Skin Cancer by flagging off the Sun- Protection Campaign. A policy framework targeted at increasing advocacy in this regard may be led by the Ministry of Health and other relevant MDAs in such a manner that will stimulate inter-ministerial efforts reinvented for creating enduring campaign on Sun- Protection Campaign for PWA.
” It is important to recount some of the 3fforts we have made to attract one or more interventions from the Federal Government and other important development partners targeted at improving the lot of PWA in this and more regards. In fact, in 2007 we had initiated a Public Private Partnership with the president Obasanjo administration during which the government launched a Skin Cancer Intervention for PWA at the National Hospital and other designated states and private hospitals. Although, this intervention continued through the regime of former late president Musa Yar’Adua, it was bankrolled in 2013 by the Federal Ministry of Finance service wide vote. The arrangement had earmarked and expended 17.8 million naira alongside other useful resources for this effort. Over 5000 Nigerians with Albinism got treated as a result of this milestone was seemingly discontinued under the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari maybe because of other overriding interests.
“Despite this discontinuance , the current government has meaningfully contributed to fighting various strands of cancer that are ravaging Nigerians such as the breast, cervical and prostate cancers. Programme such as Cancer Health Fund initiated by the president and led by the Ministry of Health has voted 1 billion Naira for cancer care in the country. While this 8s laudable, it is important to reiterate that special attention needs to be placed on PWAs who are suffering one or more forms of cancer as a result of their condition since the fund does not capture the peculiar needs of PWA. While president had assured the PWA community after he had graciously listened to a BBC Hausa advocacy campaign on cancer cases amongst PWA that he would return the previous Skin Cancer Intervention for PWA, nothing has been done to expedite actions in this regard”, he explained.
WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti has hinted that with adequate investment in midwifery, the 4.3 million lives could be saved annually by 2035, adding Midwives are central to the prevention of maternal and newborn deaths, and stillbirths.
This has particular relevance for the WHO African Region, which records about 196 000 maternal deaths each year, along with the deaths of one million babies younger than one month.
She gave this hint in her message to commemorate the 2022 International Day of the Midwife, providing the opportunity to honour the work of midwives, and promote awareness of the crucial care that midwives provide to mothers and their newborns.
This year marks the establishment, 100 years ago, of the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM). There are currently 143 Midwives’ Associations representing 124 countries worldwide, including the Confederation of African Midwives Associations (CONAMA), which was inaugurated in 2013.
According to her: “Unfortunately, if current trends persist, only 300 000 midwifery jobs are likely to be created in low-income countries, with the shortage of midwives set to increase to 1 million by 2030. This has serious implications for the Sustainable Development Goal target of reducing the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100 000 live deaths before 2030. The contributions that midwives have to make towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and Universal Health Coverage cannot be overestimated. Midwives have been strengthening Primary Health Care for decades, acting as a critical link between women and the health system, and making pregnancy and childbirth safer and more secure.
“Fully integrated into the health care system, and with the necessary enabling support, midwives have the capacity to provide a wide range of clinical interventions, so contributing to broader health goals. These include advancing Primary Health Care, addressing sexual and reproductive rights, promoting self-care interventions, and empowering women.
“Midwives, who have been an integral part of African medicine for centuries, are the front-line caregivers and backbone of maternal and child health care on the continent. They support women through pregnancy and childbirth, providing antenatal, intrapartum and post-natal care, and family planning services, as well as breast and cervical cancer screenings. In emergencies, they can also perform basic emergency obstetric care.
“According to the 2021 State of the World’s Midwifery report, by the WHO, the ICM and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the global shortage of midwives stands at 900 000, and is particularly acute in Africa.
“With estimates that 75% of essential needs for maternal and reproductive health care are met by midwives, it is concerning that the comparative figure for the WHO African Region is only 41%.”
She further stated that: “The African Region’s tragic record of maternal and infant deaths demands urgent interventions to expand the coverage of emergency obstetric and newborn services, along with a revision of the scope of practice to allow more task-sharing and task-shifting to mitigate the shortage of midwives.
“We, as WHO in the African Region, are working closely with our Member States to improve the quality of maternal and reproductive care. We are supporting the development and implementation of national strategies to accelerate the reduction of preventable maternal and newborn illness and death, and to improve every mother’s experience of care, by 2030.
“Despite significant progress in Africa to reduce preventable deaths related to pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, the interruption of services due to the COVID-19 response is only one of several challenges that still remain.
“Governments and partners need to substantially increase investment in the education, recruitment, deployment, retention and protection of midwives. This is essential if African countries are to be capacitated to increase coverage and quality of maternal services, while still responding effectively to health emergencies. During the pandemic, midwifery has been impacted by restrictive practices introduced in maternal and newborn care to mitigate the risk of cross-infection. WHO, in collaboration with UNICEF and UNFPA, developed technical guidance for countries to enable continuity of essential Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Adolescent Health services, while protecting and supporting midwives. In addition, WHO advocates for the adoption of policies to combat sexual harassment and promote a safe and respectful work environment, for midwives and other health workers.
“On the International Day of the Midwife today, I urge governments, academic institutions, civil society and partners to invest in midwifery education, recruitment, regulation and protection. An investment in boosting the number of midwives in Africa will contribute to better health, gender equality, and inclusive economic growth.
“Let’s give these vital and cost-effective contributors to high-standard maternal care the attention they truly deserve”, she hinted.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has expressed optimism that the Lekki Deep Seaport has the tendency to turn the nation into a shipping hub, boost the economy, and create jobs for the teaming unemployed youths in the country.
The minister who described the Lekki Deep Seaport as a game changer in the Maritime Sector added that, the project would generate over 200 times the cost of its investment.
The Minister made the remarks on Wednesday in Lekki, when he was accompanied by heads of parastatals under the Ministry of Transportation, on a Media Tour of the Lekki Deep Seaport.
According to the minister, “the investment in the seaport is worth 1.53 billion dollars on fixed assets and 800 million dollars on construction while the aggregate impact has been put at 361 billion dollars in 45 years, an amount which is over 200 times the cost of building it”.
He added “the investment in addition to the financial returns it would generate, will create 169,972 jobs and bring revenues totalling 201 billion dollars to state and federal governments through taxes, royalties and duties.
“I called it a game changer because of the impact it will have on the nation’s economy and the jobs it will create, among others”.
The Minister noted that Nigeria would utilize the Lekki Deep Seaport as an avenue to regain the maritime business that was lost to ports in Togo, Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana, stressing that it is also a big boost to Nigeria in its quest to take advantage of the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
“A major advantage we have to leverage is transshipment. With this port, Nigeria will become a transshipment hub and the revenue we are currently losing to our neighboring countries will come here”, he said.
Lai Mohammed however commended the shareholders of the Lekki Deep Seaport for deploying first class equipment for its operations, listing some of such equipment as 7 Ship-To-Shore cranes and 21 Rubber Tyred Gantry (RTG) cranes
He said the provision of modern equipment is why the port can do 18,000 twenty-foot equivalent unit (teu), which is more than four times the number that can currently be handled by the other ports in the country.
The Minister said the project is self sufficient in required electricity as it is now ready to generate up to 10 Mega Watts, in addition to an installed capacity of 16 mega watts.
As part of the ongoing Zuma Firm Festival 2022 celebrations, officials from the Nigeria Film Corporation (NFC) and the FCT Administration visited and fed hundreds of women and children at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Malaysian Gardens, Waru District, and Durumi IDPs Camps, respectively.
The NFC and FCTA, the festival’s organizers and sponsors, attacked the IDPs Camps with bags of cooked rice and beverages (soft drinks) packaged in take-away packs, which were given to leaders of the two temporary shelters for distribution to women and children.
The organisers of the festival made a donation of Naira equivalent of 100 Dollars to the family of a new born baby girl, who was delivered just as the team stormed the Durumi IDPs Camp, to enable them buy some of the necessary the new born will require.
Speaking during the outreach, the NFC’s Managing Director, Dr. Chidia Maduekwe, said the film festival having coincided with the Sallah holidays, the organisers decided to have an outreach to those in the IDP Camps, to let them know that they are not alone in the challenging situation they are facing for years.
According to Maduekwe : “What we have brought for our women and children who are here, is not much , as it’s just very symbolic, to let you that you’re not alone as your fellow Nigerians are with you. You’re part of us, and we are part of you.
“Film festival is about creativity and uplifting the creative industry and economy , we therefore felt that we should visit part of the society that may not have found possible to join us in celebrating the film festival in the city centre.
“So we felt that we should come to them with the message of hope, because even though that their situation today is one of misery and disadvantage, we know that they have the potentials for creativity in them.
” That’s why we are here to let them that there is hope, so long as they are living and that the Federal Government is concerned about their situation. The government is attacking the issue at the root cause there in Borno State.
“And the Federal Government here in Abuja through its agencies like the FCT Administration is providing succour in terms of accomodation. Coming from the creative angle, of course, federal government through its agency like the NFC is telling them that yes you’re here in the IDPs Camp, but there is creativity in every human being, and that creativity must be unlocked”.
Receiving the team at the Durumi IDPs Camp, Idris Ibrahim Halilu , Coordinator and spokesman of Abuja based IDP camps, commended the organisers of the Zuma Festival for deeming it fit to reach out to them with food and drinks.
Similarly, Ibrahim Ahmed , Secretary of the IDPs Camp at the Malaysian Gardens Estate, who described the outreach as a welcome development, however sought their intervention in other areas like the eviction threat from the owners of the Estate.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has ramped up its preparations for this year’s hajj by launching the second round of instruction and orientation for its Intending Pilgrims just a month before the airlift to Saudi Arabia begins.
In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja by PRO, FCT-MPWB Muhammad Lawal Aliyu, the Board’s Director, Mallam Muhammad Nasiru Danmallam, stated that the Board has mapped out a strategy to conduct a hitch-free exercise by preparing the Intending Pilgrims to achieve an acceptable Hajj despite the shortest time available to prepare.
The Director said that the Intending Pilgrims would be enlightened on the entire hajj operation on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th of this month at the Permanent hajj transit camp, near the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport Abuja from 8 o’clock in the morning.
He further stated that with 1537 seats allocation for this year’s hajj, the Board has streamlined its preparation to ensure that Intending Pilgrims from the territory get the best services compare to non in line with the aspiration of the Federal Capital Territory Administration.
He said that Board has already mobilize renowned Islamic scholars for the exercise to educate the Intending Pilgrims on the Hajj rites as well as new policies introduced for this year’s hajj by the Saudi authorities and National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
The Director advised Intending Pilgrims from the territory to participate in all programmes organized by the Board especially with the new policies and guidelines introduce for hajj this year by Saudi Arabia after COVID-19 pandemic.
He further stated that the Board would not relent in its effort to ensure that the Intending Pilgrims from the Territory attain an acceptable hajj by complying with the rules and regulations put in place by relevant authorities for the exercise.
He hinted that the Board has already commenced the process of transferring the deposits of those who have already opened their personal Hajj Saving Account with Ja’iz Bank as directed by NAHCON.
He therefore warned all intending pilgrims who are yet to submit their account details or submit their International Passport to do so to enable the Board commence the process of their travel documents as soon as clear signal on the exercise is received from relevant authority.
He reassured the Board’s principle of first-come first-served in selecting those that would participate in this year’s hajj exercise through the Board.
He, however, advised intending pilgrims particularly the first timers, to take advantage of the exercises and enhance their Islamic knowledge on Hajj rites and proper guidance toward the attainment of acceptable Hajj.
In order to save lives and property, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) will barricade the main road from Games Village to the Airport road, as well as other roads in the FCT.
This comes after severe rains in the Lokogoma District of the Federal Capital Territory on Wednesday morning, which were caused by early morning showers.
Alhaji Abbas Idriss, the Director General of the Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), made the announcement in Abuja.
Reacting to the heavy floods which affected,Dogongada in Lokogoma and Damangaza and Apo Dutse in Gudu Districts, Alhaji Idriss appealed to residents to heed the early warnings issued by FEMA.
This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja by FEMA Head,PRU, Nkechi Isa stressing that: ” We will continue to educate residents as a government in the language they will understand. Motorists should avoid driving on running water, wait for five or more minutes for the water to subside before driving. Cross check before leaving homes or your work places to ensure that the road is safe”. He said.
Noting that the onset of the rains in the FCT Will commence on the 14th of this month, Idriss said, We are going to have a little above normal rainfall this year.Therefore, residents should be wary of the devastating effects of flooding.
Residents should avoid building on water ways, water channels, raising retention walls, and ensure that the required 25 meters gap between your house and the water channels/roads are allowed for safety in accordance with the Abuja master plan. When you do this we will all be safe”.
The FEMA boss who blamed flooding in the Territory on indiscriminate construction, infractions and urbanisation, assured that relevant agencies were working to remove all obstructions.
“We will advise them to remove any obstructions, nobody should assume that they can block water ways just because they want to have a wider space”. He quipped.
In the meantime, the Search and Rescue Unit of the Forcasting Response and Mitigation of FEMA,(FRM), has rescued a resident from drowning on at Dogongada in the early hours of today.
According to the Acting Director FRM,Mrs Florence Wenegieme, the rescue followed a distress call on the 112 emergency toll free number at 5.25am. She informed that the victim’s vehicle was totally submerged , leaving him trapped on the roof top of his car.
Security professionals, particularly police officers, have been urged to constantly be there for one another in the pursuit of their main mandate of policing the city in order to properly secure lives and property in the nation’s capital.
This charge was given on Wednesday in Abuja by Superintendent of Police (SP) Rahamatu Umar, a retired Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the FCT Secretariat and surrounds.
SP Umar, who was retiring this week after 35 years in the force, said that police work is a team effort because no one can do it alone, and urged senior officers to constantly be on the job by being hardworking and patient while training subordinates.
According to her, police work is a team work, so you can’t do it alone. You have to go with others , so I thank my subordinates and junior ranks – we were always there for each other.
Sharing her working relationship between her Division and the FCT Administration while in service, she said : “We were all good to each other – from the FCT Security Department to other stakeholders. We are attachees to the complex, but we are the overall number one security.
” When anything happens – whether in the night or day, my phones are open 24/7, they call my lines; or they have any security report, they will call me direct, saying beef up security, this is what is going to happen. And I will call my personnel, let us act and the situation brought under control. It is not my doing, but it is the grace of God.
“My advice to my successor is that she should be patient and carry everybody along, put the personnel through the job, and she herself should be up and doing. Let her not sit down in the office, just waiting for her subordinates to do it for her, so she be up and doing by visiting them, talking to them and organising lectures.
“Also, she should not hesitate to call their attention and point fingers to whoever that is wrong. Also, she should place anybody that is misbehaves where he belongs to – that’s the job.”
SP Umar, who joined the Police on the first May, 1987, and retired on Sunday, First May, 2022, said : “I thank God for seeing this day alive- physically alright and I’m bouncing out physically to my family. I thank the FCT Minister for being there for me, because if there is anything concerning the personnel, I would run to him, and he will always answer me”.
She retired as a Division Police Officer posted to FCTA Secretariat complex, which houses office the FCT Minister and top officials of the FCTA as well as the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Ecobank.
Other areas of coverage within the Division include CBN Quarters, FCDA building, Nicon Luxury, NTA broadcasting and admin blocks and Cantonment barracks within the Area 11, Garki District of Abuja.
On her part, the new DPO posted to the FCTA, SP, Gimbya Audu, said she taking over to continue from her predecessor stopped, even as she going to work with the advice from SP Umar.
She said , “I have to work very hard with my personnel as a team, because without their cooperation, then the work will not go well.
“My general charge to my subordinates, is that let us work together, as I need them to be always cooperate like one family, so as to deliver on our mandate here”.
Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, said data shows that effective infection prevention and control strategies, including as hand cleanliness, can cut health-care-associated infections in half while increasing new-born survival rates by up to 44%.
She went on to say that proper, frequent hand hygiene is critical in the fight against epidemics and pandemics, as seen by the responses to COVID-19 and cholera, as well as the looming issue of antimicrobial resistance.
Moeti stated this in her message commemorating World Hand Hygiene Day in Abuja on Thursday.
According to her:”The depth of the challenge of prioritizing hand hygiene as an infection prevention and control measure is highlighted by WHO/UNICEF global estimates, which reveal that one in every four health facilities worldwide lack even the most basic access to water supplies, and one in every three do not have hand hygiene facilities at point of care. The situation is even more dire in Africa, where half of all health care facilities do not have basic water access.
“World Hand Hygiene Day is marked annually on 5 May to foster and support a culture of handwashing, while raising awareness and understanding about this effective and affordable way to help prevent the spread of diseases.
“This year’s theme, “Unite for Safety – Clean Your Hands”, focuses specifically on health facilities, with a call to all health workers, patients and their family members to unite on hand hygiene to achieve a culture of high quality, safer care.
“WHO has developed and disseminated hand hygiene in health care guidelines to Member States and facilities, and offered technical guidance in the implementation of monitoring tools in countries in the African Region. Additionally, WHO in the African Region has supported the improvement of hand hygiene practices through awareness campaigns in Member States, the training of more than 200 000 health workers since the onset of COVID-19, and the provision of WASH infrastructural support to multiple facilities. Technical guidance on local production of Alcohol-Based Hand Rub (ABHR), and scaling up existing efforts, has been conducted in Member States including Burkina Faso, Chad, Ethiopia, South Africa and Uganda”.
Moeti further stated that: “WHO has collaborated with the African Union and the Africa Centres for Diseases Control and Prevention to develop a legal framework to institutionalize Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) standards at national level, and in healthcare facilities. This legal framework emphasizes that hand hygiene is a national indicator of the quality of healthcare systems that must be formalized in all countries. Good practices on hand hygiene need to be expanded and sustained to build a culture of compliance, to ultimately improve the well-being of all people in the African Region.
“Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), and hand hygiene measures, are a fundamental part of the WHO’s Infection, Prevention and Control (IPC) minimum requirements. The Regional IPC strategic plan includes implementation of these minimum requirements in all countries in the Region, with a view to boosting future resilience.
“A holistic approach that includes improved collaboration, and public-private partnerships and investment, remains crucial to expanding and maintaining infrastructure for safe water, sanitation and hygiene in the Region. More financial resources are required in most African countries to achieve universal access to water, sanitation and hygiene services by 2030, and research on the socio-economic burden of healthcare-associated infections in African countries is also needed.
“To prioritize clean hands in health facilities, workers at all levels need to believe in the importance of hand hygiene and IPC in saving lives. They are key players in achieving the appropriate behaviours and attitudes to this critical intervention.
“Today, on World Hand Hygiene Day, I would like to thank our hardworking health care staff in the African Region for leading by example, and encouraging others to clean their hands. I would also like to acknowledge the work of IPC practitioners, who tirelessly encourage health workers to become part of new hand hygiene initiatives. To governments and partners, I urge you to invest more in the expansion of access to safe water and sanitation for our people. If we all “unite for safety” by practising good hand hygiene, we will indeed be better positioned to secure the high quality and safer care which we all envision for future generations of Africans.
“Additional Resources: Initiative for patient safety – hand hygiene with private organizations; Supporting you to talk about hand hygiene: A primer for those in health care; Applying the WHO multimodal strategy for successful infection prevention improvements in health care! Initiative for patient safety – hand hygiene with private organizations; Tools for creating an institutional safety climate; and Annual 5 May advocacy toolkit”‘ she stated
