(DDM) – Public health specialist and Managing Director of the Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh Health Trust, Mrs. Niniola Williams, has called for urgent adoption of hygiene and sanitation practices to prevent disease outbreaks across Nigeria.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that Williams made the remarks during an appearance on Channels Television’s Health Matters programme, stressing that prevention is cheaper and more effective than treatment.
Hand washing must be a daily routine
Williams emphasised that disease prevention begins with individuals but has wider implications for communities and the nation.
“The first step is making sure that we have clean hands and clean environments, clean spaces,” she said.
“Hand washing should not be seasonal—it should actually be a routine thing that we do consistently,” she added.
She expressed concern that Nigerians embraced hand washing during outbreaks like Ebola and COVID-19 but have since abandoned the habit.
“When you look at the impact of it in terms of cost, it’s low, but the effectiveness is high,” she noted.
Poor sanitation poses public health threats
Williams also identified poor sanitation and waste management as major drivers of infections in communities.
“Waste can be a breeding ground for a lot of germs that will now enter our spaces and inevitably infect people around,” she warned.
She urged households, local authorities, and waste management agencies to improve environmental cleanliness as a national health priority.
Food and water safety under scrutiny
The public health expert further stressed the importance of food and water safety, pointing out that contaminated sources are major carriers of disease.
“We underestimate how many diseases spread through poor food sanitation and unclean water,” Williams said.
She gave a relatable example, asking: “If you’re a Zobo seller, where are you getting your water from? How do you ensure that your customers are not going to fall sick?”
She advised food vendors and consumers to pay close attention to water sources, cooking methods, and overall food hygiene.
“For local food vendors and those who patronize them, we must ensure the materials used are quality, the water is clean, and the food is cooked thoroughly enough to kill infections,” she explained.
Strengthening the body’s natural defenses
Williams also reminded Nigerians that their bodies possess natural defenses capable of fighting infections—but only when properly cared for.
“We underestimate the fact that our bodies are capable of fighting infections, but only when we care for them properly,” she said.
Prevention cheaper than cure
Concluding her remarks, Williams urged Nigerians to take preventive measures seriously, noting that health security depends on collective responsibility.
“These are all preventable things, but we must take them seriously,” she stated.
“Clean hands, safe food, clean water, and proper waste management are not luxuries, they are necessities for national health security.”
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