Stakeholders from education, health, and environmental sectors in Kwara State have commended the Hygiene Quest (HQ) programme for its transformative impact on schools, communities, and healthcare facilities.

At a stakeholders' meeting held in Ilorin on Wednesday, jointly organized by the Well Being Foundation Africa (WBFA) and Reckitt, participants lauded the initiative for fostering positive behavioral changes. These include improved hygiene among pregnant and lactating women, better school enrolment, and heightened environmental awareness.

The programme, which promotes practices such as regular handwashing, targets 300 schools, 10 local government areas, and 12 healthcare facilities across the state. It also emphasizes inclusivity by integrating persons with disabilities.

Salimot Ahmed from the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) said the introduction of the programme has reduced the number of student's absenteeism in the schools that were covered and called for an extension to other schools especially in the rural areas.

The UNESCO Desk Officer, Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Mr. Taiye Odedeji, said that the programme has been impactful since its introduction in schools, thereby catching them young.

He said the programme should be expanded to Schools with Special Needs in its inclusion of people with disabilities in the programme.

Muritala Salau from Offa in Offa local government said the programme improved wellness among the people of the community, saying that those taught have not stopped spreading the message to others.

Corroborating the claim, Elder John Ogunkayode from Omu-Aran said that members of the community not covered were looking forward to receiving the team.

WBFA Director of Programming and Reporting, Mr. Williams Awotunde, said that by focusing on handwashing, WBFA tackles one of the simplest yet most effective ways to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

�This project is not just about knowledge, but also about action, creating sustainable habits among school children, pregnant women, lactating mothers, and community members.

�Additionally, we recognize that healthcare workers play a pivotal role in driving behaviour change, which is why this initiative incorporates capacity-building sessions called Teach Clean for these essential workers,� he said.

Sponsor of the programme, Reckitt-Dettol, represented by the Territory Sales Manager, Mr. Nurudeen Musa, said the purpose of the programme was to instill hand-washing in the people.

He said the total well-being of citizens would affect the people and their productivity, hence it should be prioritised.