Hand hygiene is a lesson for life as much as a lesson in health, which is why Phase III of our Clean Naija WBFA-Dettol Nigeria Hygiene Quest programme continues to be delivered through our Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE), Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) curriculum, designed to complement foundational learning. Our theory of transformation, Know, Do, Inspire, carries knowledge into practice and leadership, through student-led Hygiene Quest Clubs and Peer Ambassadors in schools and TEACH Clean infection prevention and control training for nurses, midwives and health workers in healthcare facilities, so that every Handwashing Hero commitment travels home.

Phase I established the programme in Lagos, Kwara and Abuja, and Phase II reached 272,787 students in 618 schools, with independent assessments across both phases recording falls in communicable disease of 34% in Abuja, 22% in Kwara and 16% in Lagos. Phase Ill targets more than 750,000 students across 750 schools and over 90,000 mothers across 78 healthcare facilities, with 5,144 health workers trained since 2022.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that hand hygiene and infection prevention can avert up to 70% of healthcare-associated infections, we remain committed to supporting our Key Public Stakeholders and Partners, the Lagos State Ministries of Basic and Secondary Education, Youth and Social Development, Health, and Environment and Water Resources, and Education District V; the Kano State Ministries of Education and Health, Universal Basic Education Board and Primary Health Care Management Board; and the Rivers State Ministries of Education, Health, and Water Resources and Rural Development and Primary Health Care Management Board, in every school and healthcare facility, because clean hands save lives.