The facility is one of the many facilities constructed in schools through the partnerships behind the Wash First Program (The County Government of Nakuru, Centre for Enhancing Democracy and Good Governance-CEDGG and the Netherlands through the SNV program).
Song and dance filled the air on Friday 16th october,2021 at Mercy Njeri Primary School in Rongai Sub-county of Nakuru during the handing over of a hand-washing facility.
This took place during an event to celebrate this year’s Global Handwashing Day, an international event that was first celebrated in 2008 to drive handwashing behavior change on a scale never seen before, bringing the critical issue to center stage.
Speaking during the handing over of the facility to Mercy Njeri Primary school, Wilikister Akinyi from CEDGG was categorical that the Handwashing Facility will go a long way in creating awareness on the COVID-19 precaution measures. She revealed that their target in the Wash-First Program in schools is ensuring there are hand washing facilities in Naivasha and Nakuru Municipality.
According to Akinyi, training has been carried out in Naivasha on how to wash hands for better hygiene.
“This is key in up-scaling the awareness on COVID-19 pandemic and safety measures,” she said.
These sentiments were later echoed by Peter Rono, one of the coordinators of the activities under the Wash-First Program. Rono expressed satisfaction that the project has achieved the objective that was intended during the actualization. He was however quick to note that as stakeholders they will go on with the sensitization of the public on the importance of Handwashing.
The Program has achieved the intended objective because we can see some behavior change. As we mark this Global Handwashing Day, we are very grateful that the program has also contributed towards ensuring Handwashing. We shall continue to sensitize on the same.
Peter Rono, Wash First Program activity coordinator
“The Program has achieved the intended objective because we can see some behavior change. As we mark this Global Handwashing Day, we are very grateful that the program has also contributed towards ensuring Handwashing. We shall continue to sensitize on the same” said Rono.
Nakuru Level 5 Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr.Aisha Maina who was the Chief Guest during the event at Mercy Njeri Primary, reiterated the importance of Handwashing. Dr.Aisha noted that if all Kenyans can embrace the Handwashing behavior, then there will be a total reduction of diseases in the country.
She called on all stakeholders to join hands in ensuring handwashing facilities up top grassroot institutions to avert the spread of diseases.
“When we wash hands we reduce diarrhea diseases by 30-50 percent and therefore the need for all of us to embrace this simple behavior,” said Dr.Aisha.
When we wash hands we reduce diarrhea and diseases by 30-50 percent, We therefore need to embrace a handwashing habit.
Dr.Aisha Maina, Nakuru Level 5 Hospital Medical Superintendent
