Promoting Hand Washing Hygiene Amongst Primary School Pupils in Nigeria

Hand washing is a key component of the World Health Organization (WHO) guidance to reduce transmission of the SARS-CoV2 virus, responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. WHO estimates that more than two third of Nigerian population do not have access to adequate water supply, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). In most rural primary schools, absence of clean water supply makes proper hand washing difficult. Unsafe hand hygiene practices increases pupils vulnerability to COVID-19 virus. This study aims at promoting proper hand washing practices among primary school pupils in the rural communities of Nigeria, using Ebonyi State as a case study. The project adopts a two pronged methodological approach: (1) Health promotion campaign in randomly selected rural primary schools in Ebonyi State via training workshops and conferences for teachers and school pupils. (2) Design and deployment of a manually operated Hand washing Machine in a typical rural school to monitor changes in hand washing habits and impact on pupil's health over time. The study adopts a hub and spoke model, with Alex Ekwueme Federal University (AE-FUNAI) as the hub institution. Spoke institutions include three other Higher Education Institutions (Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Alvan-Ikokwu Federal College of Education).