Mr Bitrus Baba, Market Leader of Sabon Tasha Market, Kaduna, washing his hands with the water facility provided by Aid Foundation and WaterAid  

By Philip Yatai

Mr Bitrus Baba, the Leader of Sabon Tasha Market, Kaduna metropolis has commended Aid Foundation and WaterAid for installing hand washing facilities in markets and other public places.

Baba, along with some market men and women gave the commendation in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Kaduna on Sunday.

According to them, the gesture had reinforced the habit of regular hand washing in markets and public places as an effective strategy for curbing the spread of COVID-19.

They said that the non-touch and user-friendly hand washing facility was accessible to all, including children and persons with disabilities.

NAN reports that the hand washing facilities were installed in churches, mosques, markets, schools, hospitals, and other high-density areas in 14 local government areas of Kaduna State.  

The facilities were installed under the Aid Foundation and WaterAid’s Scaling-Up Hygiene Project in the state, to promote good hygiene practices in households and public places, against COVID-19 pandemic.

The market leader told NAN that the facility has relieved the market officials of the burden of sourcing for water all the time to enforce regular hand washing in the market.

“We initially had a small water container that we placed at the entrance of the market for people to wash their hands, but it ran out within a short time.

“But now we have a big water tank installed for us at the entrance of the market and specifically designed to provide water for hand washing around the clock, for everyone, including children and persons with disabilities.

“We really appreciate Aid Foundation and Water Aid for the effort in inculcating good hygiene practices in markets and public places, to guide against COVID-19 and other diseases,” he said.

Mrs Rebecca Bassi, a vegetables seller in the market washing her hands

Mrs Rebecca Bassi, who sells vegetables in the market, described the gesture as “very encouraging”, saying that it has eased access to clean water for regular hand washing in the market.

According to her, access to clean water was crucial to the success of any campaign for good hygiene behaviour in households and public places against COVID-19.

Similarly, a fruit seller, Mrs Zainab Abdullahi, said that the facility has relieved them the burden of walking long distance in search of water for hand washing.

Mrs Abdullahi, a mother four, said that with the facility just some steps away, she can fully concentrate on her customers, and only need to walk to the sport and wash her hands at regular intervals.  

Also, a 23-year-old Christy James, who was in the market to shop, said she was very delighted seeing the huge water facility at the entrance of the market.

According to her, the initiative has made regular hand washing in the market very practical and encouraging, adding that it will go a long way in protecting people from the dreaded Coronavirus.

Mr Abdulmumuni Mohammed, who sells, second-hand clothes at the entrance of the market, washing his hands with the facility

Mr Abdulmumuni Mohammed, who sells, secondhand clothes at the entrance of the market, also said that the water facility had saved him the pains of having to buy water for hand washing all the time.

“All I need to do now is just walk there, step on the pedal and liquid soap will flow, step on another pedal and water will flow for me to wash my hands.

“Hand washing is now so simple, comfortable and encouraging in Sabon Tasha market,” he said.

Mr Emmanuel Bonet, Executive Director, Aid Foundation, had explained during the inauguration of the project in 2020 that the goal was to improve hygiene practices, better health outcomes and general wellbeing of citizens.

On his part, the WaterAid Team Lead in the state, Idowu Adebayo said that the project was designed to strengthen ongoing efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the country.